Herne Bay: Work of art

The creative design skills of its owners have made this Herne Bay home stand out from the crowd. By VICKI HOLDER.

Creating their own home gave one design couple the perfect opportunity to stretch the boundaries in directions their clients aren't often prepared to go.

Architect Geoff Ward and his interior designer wife, Belinda, became their own dream clients when they built a landmark, modern, red-brick home overlooking the harbour in Herne Bay.

It was not a move they had anticipated - at least not until the unexpected advent of children forced them to reassess the suitability of their home in Parnell.

When they couldn't find a suitable property nearby, they looked further afield and purchased a large, elevated site to build a contemporary home with an edge. Inspired by some traditional 1970s houses in the street, they were keen to use roman bricks as cladding, but these were no longer available. The discovery of hand-made bricks left over from the Holy Trinity Cathedral extension gave them a chance to take a part of Parnell with them.

Although the primary objective was to provide enough space for their two sons, Milan and Daane, Belinda says the couple's large artworks played a pivotal role. "The original concept was to have an open, art gallery-style house. But we ended up with more glass than walls. We wanted to keep it simple and symmetrical to maximise the views. Every room in the house, except the utility rooms, has a view of the harbour."

On the house's northern aspect, floor-to-ceiling glass sliders open from an enormous gallery-like living area to a concrete paved terrace, which stretches to the boundary. A louvre aluminium screen adds privacy from neighbours and channels your gaze over a mosaic-tiled lap pool at the edge of the property to the harbour view.

Resolving the diminished wall space, a sliding wall glides along the polished black granite pathway that runs from the entry to the far end of the room. Not only does the moveable wall add more display space for art, it offers flexibility to break up the dimensions of the room as required.

The home's uncluttered layout and level garden is thanks to a huge amount of work undertaken prior to building. The site was contoured considerably to facilitate the flow between the living areas of the house and the garden, with massive four-car garaging and storage underneath.

Everything is kept simple and open, including the kitchen, which sits on show like a solid piece of timber furniture. Housing an under-bench freezer, the big black granite island even contains storage for large trays and platters in the toe-kick.

When Geoff and Belinda are entertaining, a cavity door can slide out from behind the kitchen pantries to separate the children's play area from the main room. This smaller area looks out to a grassy lawn where children can play in an original 100-year old jacaranda tree.

If a more intimate mood is required, the Wards retreat to a small family lounge with a gas fire adjacent to the main room. Storage for games and entertainment gear is accommodated in roll-out drawers tucked beneath a stainless-steel hearth. The room opens through sliders to an open-air courtyard, which is completely enclosed.

Geoff has claimed a self-contained guest wing, complete with kitchen and bathroom, as his office. A spacious area that opens out to a terrace and pond, it features a stunning bathroom with a rectangular basin set in a stainless-steel vanity.

A lightwell through the middle of the house throws natural light into the upstairs gallery linking the three bedrooms and a small office.

Lapping up the harbour panorama, the master bedroom eases into a room-size dressing room with fitted maple drawers. The en suite was inspired by a bathroom the Wards saw in a 14th century French medieval castle. Placed in the centre of the room, a large bath is complemented by a glass wall, which forms an open shower.

Designed for elegant living, this superbly detailed home on its prominent site is an artwork in itself, testimony to the considerable talent of its owners.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 28 Marine Pde, Herne Bay.

FEATURES: Modern brick home designed by architect Geoff Ward; spectacular harbour views; four bedrooms plus study; two bathrooms plus guest toilet; self-contained guest suite with separate entrance; private courtyard with lap pool; family room and play room; four-car garaging; irrigation system with sensor; Miele kitchen appliances; central vacuum system; American maple flooring.

SIZE: Floor area 430sq m; land area 651sq m.

AUCTION: 4pm, December 5, at Kellands' offices.

AGENTS: Nicola Bull and Kym Aikin, Kellands Real Estate. Ph 302 2209 bus; Nicola 021 474 645 mob; Kym 021 586 222 mob.