With proportions and a layout that feel more like a luxury townhouse than an apartment, this Parnell residence is a modern masterpiece that’s been designed for the area’s discerning downsizers.
It’s part of the award-winning Edition building, which was developed by Pink Beluga and designed by acclaimed architects, Monk Mackenzie. As well as creating a timelessly elegant living environment and showcasing magnificent inner harbour views, the considered floor plan has really zeroed in on the exact requirements of the target buyer.
Rory O’Connor, from Pink Beluga, says that one of the things that makes the three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment unique is that it is split level.
“Upstairs you’ve got two bedrooms (including the master), your main living area and kitchen with scullery, and then below that is almost like a self-contained unit. It’s got its own separate entrance, a large lounge area and another bedroom and bathroom.”
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He says it will really appeal to people wanting to accommodate guests or who have older kids still living with them, or who are at boarding school or university.
“If they’re back for the holidays and get home a bit later than you like, they can creep in downstairs without waking the whole house up.”
The design brief across the entire building and particularly these larger apartments (there are 19 in total and most are already occupied) was to cater to that transitional period.
“We’re looking for people at a stage of life where they still require that space because they’ve got kids or grandkids, or they’re used to entertaining and don’t want to sacrifice space to move into a lock up and leave. That’s what the majority of the building’s occupiers actually are. They’re in and out – have places on Waiheke or down south and are overseas a lot of the time in the winter.”
The 213sqm apartment has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and parking for three vehicles. Photo / Supplied
The split-level residence feels more like a luxury townhouse rather than an apartment. Photo / Supplied
The building was completed in 2023 and was the finalist for two awards at the World Architecture Festival, which is one of the most prestigious architecture competitions in the world, according to O’Connor. In 2017 for the Residential – Future Projects category and in 2023 for the Completed Buildings – Housing category, once it was finished.
“It was one of Monk Mackenzie’s first major projects in New Zealand and obviously they’ve gone on to build some pretty cool stuff and have become one of the more prominent architects around town.”
He says there are two major characteristics that elevate Edition, the first being the Italian glass bricks that make up the facade. There are 35,000 of them in total and the installers were flown out from Europe to lay them individually.
“On that scale they look amazing. When Hamish showed us the brick individually, we thought, ‘we remember these from 80s bathrooms’. Then when he showed us the renders it was pretty spectacular. There was a lot of cost in that but early on we made the decision that something like that really sets the building apart.
“There were a lot of other high-end luxury developments going on at that time and having that striking presence as you’re driving down the road really offered something unique – not just to that building but to architecture in general across the city.”
The other key characteristic is the distinctive cantilevered design. “That’s held up using a technique they use to make bridges called a post-tension slab, so there’s a lot of engineering in that. It creates that floating look.”
Two bedrooms, the main living area and kitchen with scullery are located upstairs. Photo / Supplied
The apartment exudes timeless elegance showcasing magnificent inner harbour views. Photo / Supplied
O’Connor says that these defining elements also make this development unlikely to be repeated, as it simply would not be affordable in today’s market.
The interior of apartment 3B is a feast for the senses, with a palette of rich natural materials curated by Bureaux. This includes travertine tiles, marble bench tops and exposed in-situ concrete ceilings.
Ross Hawkins, from Ray White, says the building has sold very well and the people living in it are loving it. “This apartment really can replace the family home. A lot of apartments are perceived as too intimate and tight, whereas this gives the ability for multi-use.”
He says as well as accommodating family and friends, the set-up would work well as a live-and-work scenario. “You could live on the upper level and have an office on the lower level because of the location and proximity to the city and motorway networks.”
3B comes with three secure basement carparks, with plenty of room to turn around. “They’ve also been designed with a gradient so supercars like Ferraris or Lamborghinis won’t have any issue going in and out.”
- 3B/2 Churton Street in Parnell, Auckland, is for sale by price on application
