- Tapper House is back on Auckland’s market after selling for over $3m last year.
- Vladimir Cacala designed the 1957 home for artist Garth Tapper, later featured in advertisements.
- Plans propose a pool and apartment, offering buyers opportunities to develop the 1384sqm section.
An architectural gem that’s starred in ads for Burger King and The Warehouse is back on the market less than a year after it sold for more than $3 million.
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OneRoof reported last year that the striking four-bedroom house at 8 Kirkmay Place, in Auckland’s Saint Heliers, was snapped up by a young family after a near-two-year search for a new owner.
Ray White agent Nadine Wilson declined to say why the family was selling, but said the house had a rich history.
Celebrated architect Vladimir Cacala designed the home in 1957. Photo / Supplied
The bright retro kitchen fits with the home’s mid-century design. Photo / Supplied
Known as Tapper House, the property was designed for New Zealand artist Garth Tapper by celebrated architect Vladimir Cacala in 1957.
Over the years, its striking features have caught the attention of talent scouts, leading to appearances in advertisements for several high-profile brands.
Wilson said Tapper House’s enduring design was what really made the house stand out. “Its clean lines, generous proportions, expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing and striking cantilevered rectangular form remain as relevant today as they were when first conceived.”
She said the property was primed for its next chapter, noting it comes with architectural concept plans for a swimming pool and self-contained apartment.
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Wilson expected the property to have wide appeal. The large four-bedroom, two-bathroom home could suit families who wanted something unique in the Eastern Bays or buyers who appreciated architecture and wanted to take an already remarkable home into its next chapter.
Before selling in November last year, the property had been on and off the market for almost two years.
Aurora Group agent Yi Wei Tang took on the listing for the distinctive property and sold it within a month.
Tang, who previously made headlines after selling Sir John Key’s Parnell home several times, told OneRoof at the time that it was bought by a young family who just loved it and managed to beat off other buyers.
The house is a treasure trove of design features. Photo / Supplied
The restoration brought back the glory of the native timbers. Photo / Supplied
OneRoof wrote about the house when it was first listed for sale in 2023. The previous owners, Melody and Scott, told OneRoof that they bought the house in 2017, for just under $3m, more for the size than its provenance.
However, art directors and location scouts knew the place, and they had frequent requests to feature it in ads.
“We get so many location scouts contacting us for ads. Currently, we’re in a Barfoot & Thompson ad, but we’ve also been in ones for The Warehouse and Burger King. We just clear out to an Airbnb for a night or so,” Melody told OneRoof in 2023.
Most of the renovation work had been carried out by the previous owners, Luke and Sandy Nola.
During their time, the house featured in architectural books and was frequently used for photo shoots by mid-century furniture dealer Mr Bigglesworthy. Luke Nola, who had a passion for restoring cars and motorbikes from the 1950s and 1960s, told the New Zealand Herald that Cacala had been a friend of his parents.
“Vlad, who was an old friend of my parents, came around to see what had been done to his house and he was pretty happy with the way they had matched the wood, including the teak on the outside.”
- 8 Kirkmay Place, Saint Heliers, Auckland, goes to auction on September 23
