This one-bedroom Westminster Court apartment, is not only a slice of Auckland history, but its new owners will also reap the benefits of work by its architect owners.
Jennifer Hanson and Kendon McGrail looked long and hard to find this apartment.
"We bought the apartment in April. We had beenlooking in this building for years because it is one of the three character apartment buildings in the city that still has car parking and it had the amenities that we wanted."
Jennifer says Westminster Court was the first of three buildings built in the 1930s next to the High Court, as a combination of hotel and private apartments for judges and people working in the judiciary system.
Originally named Courtville, the building was designed by architect A. Sinclair Connor, and has an elegant foyer, stained-glass windows, wood panelling and high studs.
In the 1980s, Mainzeal redeveloped and renamed the building Westminster Court, adding communal areas -- pool, spa, gym, barbecue area -- and extra car parking spaces. Also there are a lounge and a games room, men's and women's saunas plus guest accommodation.
Over time these freehold apartments have been bought and done up, but Kendon and Jennifer's apartment had been untouched since the 80s redevelopment.
"We are both architects so we have good contacts in the building trade.
"We started by gutting it but we made sure we left the character details," says Jennifer.
"We re-wired, re-plumbed, re-painted re-papered and put in a new laundry, bathroom and kitchen."
Image 1 of 5: Apartments were originally built for judges, writes Donna McIntyre
The idea was to have this fourth-level apartment as their inner-city bolthole, close to their design studio in Anzac St, and also a place for family visitors to stay.
21st century products have enhanced the Art Deco heritage.
That period charm is apparent in the masonry construction, door surrounds, cornices and picture frame railing, sash windows, brass detailing such as the air vents, and solid walls.
The couple added acoustic matting below the French oak flooring to give further separation from neighbours and lessen impact noise.
The living and dining area looks out over the greenery of the trees at Middle Courtville and there's also a view of the SkyTower. The kitchen is next and there is a server window between these two rooms.
They enlisted de Bruin-Judge Furniture for the kitchen fit-out including a wall of handle-less cupboards.
"Storage is really good," says Jennifer. "You would think because it is a one-bedroom apartment it might be pokey but it's not."
Again in the bathroom maximum use of space has been achieved with a shower on raised tiled flooring allowing underfloor heating.
Subway and basalt wall tiles and Wenge timber veneer impart a sophisticated appearance.
The couple are understandably pleased with the quality of the renovation but are selling because they want to extend their home in Pt Chevalier.
"In time we will buy another apartment," says Jennifer.
"We will miss the proximity to the city, walking out the front door and not having to drive anywhere. "We go to Britomart and the restaurants down there. We are super convenient to everything in the city."
