- A mid-century home at 35 Benson Road, Remuera, is for sale for the first time in 30 years.
- The house, built in 1953, features advanced design and technology, including central heating.
- The property, with a $2.875m RV, is attracting interest from mid-century fans and young families.
A mid-century home lauded as one of Australasia’s best homes when it was built in 1953 has hit the market for sale for the first time in 30 years.
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The three-bedroom architectural wonder at 35 Benson Road, in Auckland’s Remuera, was commissioned by American couple Mr and Mrs H. A. Lutz, who, according to reports at the time, were very stylish.
An issue of Australian House & Garden magazine from the year the house appeared noted that its design incorporated “advanced planning and colour schemes” from the United States.
The magazine was impressed by Mrs Lutz’s use of white in the “enchanting” living room and her furniture choices, which were from the US and included an early version of a trundle bed.
What the house looked like in 1953 when it was profiled by Australian House & Garden magazine. Photo / Supplied
The magazine raved about the stylish interiors and the gadgets. Photo / Supplied
The Lutz’s putāruru stone home had all the latest technology. “Each bed has an automatic-electric blanket,” the magazine gushed. “The refrigerator with its separate butter coolers never needs defrosting and has a deep freeze compartment above.
“In the hall, a grating is the only evidence of the central heating. The system is thermostatically controlled, and a unit just under the hall floor is all the machinery necessary.” The system cost £80, the magazine noted.
The quaint descriptions included the joys of the home’s laundry: “The well-equipped laundry lightens washing-day chores ... [with] washer, airer, heater and ironer.”
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Vendor Sarah said the Lutz’s design plans were “considered quite modern compared with what was going on in New Zealand at the time”.
Sarah told OneRoof her late parents were very interested in the stylish American couple who had built the home after picking it up in 1996 for $475,000.
Many of the home’s mid-century features have survived, she said, and it’s those qualities that are resonating with buyers at the open homes.
Barfoot & Thompson agent Rawdon Christie told OneRoof that there had been a lot of interest in the property since the listing went live earlier this month.
Although the home has some modern features, much of its mid-century charm has been retained. Photo / Supplied
“Young families are looking to use this particular market to trade up or to trade across and then know they can add value as time goes on,” he said.
“We've had a few mid-century fans who’ve just been interested to see how it looks inside. Every time we list a mid-century property, we tend to meet the same people. They’re just fans of the architecture, which is always lovely to be able to share with them.”
One or two viewers were interested in starting from scratch and building themselves a modern home, Christie said.
The home, which has an RV of $2.875m, is heading to auction, and in their listing, Christie and colleague Steve Hood highlighted the history and opportunities.
“Secure gates open to a private setting, where plentiful off-street parking was once graced by the classic 1950s cars that the first owners brought with them from America,” they wrote.
“The home itself offers three generous double bedrooms, including a sun-filled main suite with floor-to-ceiling glazing overlooking a small, heated pool. A modern tiled bathroom serves the bedrooms, while a separate guest powder room adds convenience.”
- 35 Benson Road, Remuera, Auckland, goes to auction on July 8
