An Auckland house designed by renowned architect Andrew Patterson and once owned by My Food Bag co-founder Dame Theresa Gattung has been listed for sale.
The vendor, who bought the three-bedroom home from Dame Theresa six years ago for $3.55 million, said he was a fan of the architect and the property.
He said it was a pretty ambitious build for its time.
"I'm lucky enough in my job to have seen some of the best designed homes New Zealand has to offer. I love Kiwi architecture and Andrew Patterson is one of the best in the field."
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Patterson is best known for his luxury builds, including the sprawling mansion at Andersons Cove, which sold this year for a record-breaking $56m.
But he's also brought his skills to several smaller-scale projects, like 3 Livingstone Street, in Auckland's Westmere.
Dame Theresa Gattung owned 3 Livingstone Street, in Auckland's Westmere, for five years. Photo / Sara Orme
Andrew Patterson also designed the mansion at Andersons Cove, which sold this year for $56m. Photo / Supplied
The vendor said he invited Patterson over to ask about the unusual design of the house, which includes an exterior spiral staircase.
“He said that the stairs were designed so you walk towards the ocean as you walk to bed. Hearing the thought process behind the house, it felt like poetry. I love it."
Dame Theresa was similarly bowled over by Patterson's architecture. She told OneRoof in 2020 that she commissioned him to design a new home at Waihi Beach, replacing an old bach of 20 years.
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“I absolutely love Andrew. I’m a tall person, he’s a tall person, the owner he built this for was tall so there’s a really good sense of scale, it feels expansive, but it fits into the landscape," she said.
The vendor said that he remembered telling the listing agent back in 2020 that he was going to buy the house. No cool cards-to-the-chest buyer behaviour, he laughed.
"There was no hiding it. I'd put a photo of Instagram of me standing on the staircase. I'd already fallen in love with the house," he said. "It's like a work of art but one we get to see and live in every day."
The simplicity of the design, the light from walls of glass, the high ceilings, the sleek swimming pool and the complete privacy of the 600sqm section, they all worked their magic on the vendor.
Patterson designed 3 Livingstone Street with light in mind. Photo / Supplied
The spiral staircase is a standout feature of the house. Photo / Supplied
The upstairs bedrooms feel "quite lush and calm", says the vendor. Photo / Supplied
"Downstairs is open, crisp, and light and looks out over the pool. You go upstairs, and it feels quite lush and calm."
The vendor was also surprised by how kid-friendly the home has been, highlighting the safe play areas, the swimming pool that can be viewed from the kitchen, and the playground just around the corner.
"It really has everything a family home needs, even though it doesn't look like a conventional family home. "
But living in such a well-designed house has created an itch; the vendor and his partner want to build something from scratch.
"I'm going to regret leaving this house, but doing anything to this would not be a good idea," the vendor said.
Wall Real Estate listing agent Fliss Grennell said she expected the house, which has an RV of $4.5m, to be popular with buyers. “This is a home people have admired for years. I’ve had several people ask if it would ever come to market, with more than a few saying they’d buy it in a heartbeat," she said.
"Andrew Patterson’s architecture is a big part of the appeal, but it’s the way everything comes together, the light, the sun, the privacy and the position. It’s a seriously good home."
- 3 Livingstone Street, Westmere, Auckland, is for sale, deadline closing November 24
