Easy Remuera living

The spectacular design of this suburban property makes it a home to be proud of. By VICKI HOLDER.

Positioned at the bottom of a steep gully in Remuera, this intriguing home designed by architect Nicholas Stevens is the perfect solution to a challenging site.

Its distinctive roof, resembling a double-curved shell, is the dominant feature of the property when viewed from the driveway. The angle of the roof - which dips to a two-metre ceiling height in two corners - adds an unconventional tent-like quality to the vast living area upstairs.

Built in 1997, the house sits on a small property alongside two large oak trees. The building couldn't fall within the trees' drip line, however, and the neighbours' sunlight was a consideration. To overcome these constraints, Stevens drew inspiration from houses designed by a group of architects in the 1950s and 1960s known as The Group Architects. The main body of the house, clad in dark-stained weatherboards and with horizontal bands of windows, evokes memories of The Group's modernist style.

Breaking away from traditional appearances, the two semi-circular additions covered in corrugated iron provide an interesting contrast, while their curved structure helps create a convenient turning bay for cars.

The moment the property's owner, interior stylist Dinah Malyon, stepped inside, she was sold on the home's spectacular design, easy living spaces, warmth and light.

Situated beside the double garage, the entry follows a glazed walkway which links three bedrooms. In this downstairs area, white walls and blonded pine ceilings contrast with the rustic texture of sisal flooring. Meanwhile, the soft halogen lighting low on the passage wall adds a touch of drama at dusk, and draws attention to the handsome garden below.

The master bedroom features a semi-circular wall of vertical windows overlooking the garden, while a large dressing room and en suite form the other half of the room. Decked out in high-quality fittings, the bathroom includes a small green-glass basin balanced on a stainless-steel outlet, and the mirror swings open to reveal ample storage space.

The passage leads down a flight of stairs to two further bedrooms, which look out onto a leafy courtyard. One of the rooms has french doors opening to the courtyard, and they share a mosaic-tiled bathroom with a glazed shower big enough for two.

Perfect for parties, the upstairs living area is a large, light-filled, loft-like space. The depth of the stainless-steel benchtop is echoed in the proportions of a long, low storage unit that doubles as a balustrade. Television, video and stereo gear, books and ornaments can be hidden away neatly, ensuring the floorspace remains fashionably minimal.

The frosted windows along the northern aspect were designed to screen neighbouring houses, but the trees around the boundary have since grown to a respectable height.

Generous balconies above the corrugated iron add-ons extend the room at either end. Large cedar and glazed doors open to a sunny afternoon space shaded by a sailcloth and five pohutukawa trees in planter boxes, while a breakfast area diagonally opposite offers views across the valley.

Having conquered the odds, the architect has ensured this tranquil suburban getaway basks in sun and light while safely tucked away from the neighbours.

Vital statistics

Address: 16B Mainston Rd, Remuera.

Features: Nicholas Stevens-designed home, cedar and Zincalume with copper roof; three bedrooms and two bathrooms downstairs; master bedroom with dressing room and en suite; open-plan upstairs living room with outdoor flow to two balconies through french doors at either end; gas bayonet heating; leafy garden; double internal-access garage.

Size: Land area undivided third share of 1454 sq m.

Price: High $400,000s to mid $500,000s.

Agent: Liz Derbyshire, Barfoot & Thompson Head Office. Ph 307 6340 bus; 377 2252 ah; 021 661 978 mob.