Hobson Street penthouse with Art Deco allure

Apartment 804, The Heritage, 35 Hobson St, Auckland Central.

Apartment 804, The Heritage, 35 Hobson St, Auckland Central.

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SIZE: 127sq m freehold CBD apartment.

PRICE INDICATION: $735,000; body corp (approx) $12,500.

CONTACT: Grant Elliot, City Sales, ph 021 449 406 or 303 0601.

The allure of a building steeped in Art Deco tradition was the drawcard for Steve Ingram when he bought this two-bedroom penthouse apartment in the Heritage building.

"It is a beautiful building in the CBD and not many apartments have as much character as these," he says of the circa-1914 building which housed the Farmers department store for almost 80 years. "Plus this is freehold ... and the Heritage has the hotel facilities. You have the gym, pool, tennis court and deck area, and you're still in the middle of the city."

He especially likes this older part of the hotel complex on the northern side, with its high studs and classic windows.

The penthouses are on the eighth level, with harbour views from their balconies.

"This floor used to be the offices and they converted it to apartments, leaving the high studs. My apartment is special because the whole north-facing side front is given over to the lounge, whereas most other apartments along this row have both the lounge and a bedroom at the front. Mine has the bedrooms tucked away on the south side."

Steve's apartment has just come out of the hotel's pool of accommodation and is now ripe for a new owner.

"I think it is a canvas for doing some really nice stuff," says Steve. "It could be renovated and look amazing. I'd get a painter in, get rid of the red carpet and change the furniture. It depends on how adventurous people are."

He imagines his apartment appealing to baby boomers wanting to downsize from their large homes in Ponsonby, Westmere or Remuera.

"You don't have to worry about gardens and gutters. If anything needs upgrading, with the body corp someone else does it for you. It's great for an older buyer.

"Or they could rent out the apartment. I had a quote from Quinovic saying it would bring in $1750 to $1950 a week."

Steve, who has been involved in the fashion scene while living in New Zealand, is now in London setting up a recording studio.

He is keeping a Waiheke property as his base in New Zealand.