The inside story

Mitchell Stout House is one of the highlights of the Devonport tour. Photo / Supplied

Local resident Robyn Langwell shares her community's fight to save an iconic building.

Devonport residents' feisty passion for heritage and saving historic buildings has prised open the doors of a dozen of the seaside village's most admired, majestic and mysterious houses for "The Inside Story" House & Garden tour on March 5.

Organised by the 400-member Masonic Friendly Society and Devonport Heritage, the 12-home ramble around one of Auckland's oldest suburbs aims to top up the groups' legal fighting fund to try to save the waterfront Masonic hotel. An appeal seeking to overturn a North Shore City Council decision to permit partial demolition of the historic 1866 pub and its conversion into apartments reconvenes in the Environment Court on Monday.

"The Inside Story" tour offers access to many homes which have never been opened to the public before including a derelict castle with tantalising restoration possibilities, an architect couple's own award-winning home complete with moat plus an eclectic variety of boat houses, beach homes, period villas and more than a little of the Bohemian.

A star of the show is undoubtedly the uber-green Narrowneck home of architects Julie Stout and David Mitchell which won a 2009 New Zealand Institute of Architects award. The concrete and plastic-winged house with flaxes growing on the roof and a studio "folly" evolved from the owners' desire to deal with the principles of sustainability "in a poetic way".

Stout says the concrete-walled home which houses three generations alludes to old concrete fortifications along the coastline and will eventually be covered in creepers. Plastic roofs that protrude from the house like wings are to create privacy and protection.

Another "des-res" opening its doors is the Kerr St "castle" with its eye-popping 360 degree views of Auckland. Shrouded in mystery for many years this local landmark was built in 1885 of poured concrete to a Mediterranean design for a wine merchant.

Grand in its day, with stunning gardens and opulent interior The Castle is now awaiting reinvigoration at the hands of new owner and Devonport restoration specialist Charmaine Barnett. At her invitation, Inside Story tour guests will be able to explore the "before" with a number of rooms dressed with the possibilities of what is to come for this grand old dame.

For the purists a heritage listed villa in Mays St is a must tea-stop. With a towering turret and lace-draped verandas, this stunning home is set in a secret tropical garden where Devonshire teas will be served on March 5 under the shade of an ancient walnut tree.

Sticking with the traditional, and for those with a love of crafts, Urszula Sherrell's "Quilters Villa" in Tudor St will be a heart-warmer. This charming picture-perfect Victorian gothic villa is not only a made-modern family home but also boasts a dream quilter's studio. Handcraft aficionados can browse through this avid quilter's sprawling workshop with its vast international fabric collection and well-stocked quilter's library.

And, finally, for intriguing design with classic Kiwi attitude, two daringly different waterfront houses are not to be missed.

Architect Dawdy Brown's King Edward Pde confection of a traditional villa with 50s add-ons has been revitalised into a fresh seaside abode. Perched on an ancient lava flow visitors climb up through a volcanic rock cave-like base and ascend into a light-filled living space where ships seem to skim the treetops and the simple furnishings and cool artworks are inspirational.

Last but not least, Masonic Friendly Society co-convenor Sarah Bloomfield's original Cheltenham seaside villa has to be seen to be believed. The ultimate eco-house, it operates away from the national grid with solar power and wood-fired heating and recycled treasure. Quaintly quirky, it features a unique carved wooden stairway and a joyous collection of Kiwiana.

This one-of-a-kind crafted family home flows seamlessly into a rambling garden featuring a flourishing organic kitchen garden.

* The Inside Story Tour tickets cost $45. Available now from Paradox Books, 26 Victoria Rd Devonport; Minnie Cooper Shoes, 78 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby; on line at masonicfriendlysociety.org or call Fiona on 445 1055.