A rock-solid apartment building that was a popular party venue in Katrina Wilson's student days has always held a special place in her heart -- even more so when she and husband Colin became the owners of one of the heritage Eden Hall apartments and learned more about the architectureand history of this early Auckland landmark.
It's easy to see how they were won over by the aesthetics of the concrete-and-brick building in Eden Cres with its cantilevered, rounded balconies.
Eden Hall was built in the 1930s, designed by architect Reginald Hammond as quality, inner-city apartments, an unusual building type in New Zealand at the time. That period of concentrated residential construction included the Courtville and Shortland flats, in what is now often referred to as the university quarter. "They were seen as a new way of modern life, living in the city and enjoying the city life," says Katrina.
They were state of the art, with refrigerators and stoves -- luxuries beyond the grasp of the average Kiwi. In those early days, Eden Hall enjoyed harbour views, unfortunately now obscured by newer, higher buildings, although Katrina and Colin's balcony still allows a peep of the top of Rangitoto. The freehold building is set back from the street and has a stepped effect, allowing it to sit well on the sloping section.
Apartment for sale at 8/3 Eden Cres, Auckland Centra.
Katrina explains how Eden Hall is one of a handful of surviving apartment buildings in this country representing the Modern Movement or Streamline Modern design, including detailing such as the door handles, joinery and fireplaces and outside features in the brick work detailing and bullnose corners, those cantilevered balconies and the horizontal lines of the steel windows.
Passing in and out of different ownerships over the years and even used as offices in the 60s before returning to apartment accommodation in the 80s, Eden Hall was saved from demolition in the late 90s by the Art Deco Society, the Auckland Civic Trust and the Historic Places Trust.
It would have been a piece of Auckland heritage lost forever, as these apartments have such appeal inside and out. Their layouts are more like a home's with the way the hallway accesses the two bedrooms, lounge, a third bedroom, which would originally have been a separate breakfast or dining room, and the black-and-white tiled bathroom plus the kitchenette beside the back porch, where tradesmen would deliver firewood.
Apartment for sale at 8/3 Eden Cres, Auckland Central.
Originally the couple bought the north-east facing apartment on the top level for themselves. "But then Katrina's son came to live with us and so things changed," says Colin. Instead, it has been rented out and they are selling to free up capital for another project they have in Parnell.
As well as improvements to the whole building to bring it up to modern standards, inside their apartment Katrina and Colin have added four skylights, laid new carpet, painted the interior in Quarter Thorndon Cream, bought new kitchen appliances and added storage, installed hush glass in all the windows and strengthened the chimney of the working fireplace in the lounge. There are three timer wall heaters as well as the fireplace, and they had an Art Deco mirror made to go above the fireplace. The apartment comes with a car park in another building about 100m away.
Colin calls the apartment "a home in the city".
"Every room has a window and there is a door at the front and the back. Everything you need in a home is here."
"It is quiet and such a good central location," says Katrina. "If you walk outside, you're in the city."
