Wabi-sabi is often summarised as “wisdom in natural simplicity” which perfectly describes the feeling of this architecturally designed and thoughtfully renovated 1970s townhouse in Omahu Road, Remuera.
It’s one of a group of townhouses on the former site of Johnnie’s Dancing School, a 1920-50s Remuera dance hall famed for its live ballroom and jazz music. Designed by architect Bruce Curlett in 1973, the townhouse development would have been considered avante-garde at the time and is an early example of good quality density living.
Discreet from the front, each opens to glass-lined living spaces and private courtyards designed by Curlett to maximise light and space. He also designed four different types of townhouses in the block with differing numbers of bedrooms and bathroom configurations.
Current owners Marchelle Churchman and Dean Murray are self-described mid-century and 1970s architectural enthusiasts who fell in love with the townhouse’s Japanese vibe.
Start your property search
It’s the second 1970s home that they’ve renovated, inspired by a fusion of Japanese and Danish aesthetics. The layout has all of the bedrooms upstairs and separates the children’s rooms from the main bedroom, which was also appealing for the parents of two small children when they purchased the property 12 years ago.
The perfect home and location with Remuera Primary on the doorstep, nearby shops and a double grammar zone. Over the years the couple have renovated the house to complement its original features.
The rimu staircase has been painstakingly scraped and sanded back to its original glory, and provided the cue for the kitchen renovation using quality materials, including rimu cupboards, “that are not showy but designed with integrity to last and patina well into the future”.
A kitchen servery with inbuilt rimu shelving backs on to the living room, hiding kitchen workings from view.
The living area flows out to a courtyard and outdoor dining area where a Japanese maple and cherry blossom trees have been shaped by an arborist into a living umbrella that provides shade and dappled light in summer, and light in winter when they lose their leaves.
Homeowners Marchelle Churchman and Dean Murray, self-described mid-century and 1970s architectural enthusiasts, fell in love with the townhouse’s Japanese vibe. Photo / Supplied
The townhouse has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and one carpark, plus multiple living areas. Photo / Supplied
There are also established lemon and lime trees as well as a planter boxes for kitchen herbs. And room for a spa pool!
When the family first moved in, the garden was completely overgrown and they had to fight their way through the trees to get to the house. Over the years they’ve landscaped the property and focused on planting on the boundary which has created a green-on-green palette.
They also added an off-street parking bay (they use the enclosed carport – which has internal access to the home – for bikes, surfboards, skateboards).
“It’s rare to find a townhouse with such an established private garden and because it’s reasonably unassuming from the street people are often surprised by how green and open it is to the outdoors when they walk through the gate,” says Dean. “Everyone always comments that it’s a very calm and soothing space.”
The master bedroom – which has a ensuite and walk-in wardrobe – is like a treehouse with canopy views of the maple and cherry blossom. The other bedrooms, both with study nooks, share a bathroom, and one has a view of the lemon tree.
Now that their children have finished schooling, Marcelle and Dean are downsizing and have purchased another 1970s architecturally-designed townhouse in St Heliers which they intend to renovate.
The living area flows out to a courtyard and outdoor dining area. Photo / Supplied
Bayleys agent Steve Koerber says 11C Omahu Road, in Remuera, is not your average 1970s townhouse. Photo / Supplied
“We’ve always loved the idea of being by the water and we’ve found a slightly smaller version of this one so it seemed like the next logical step,” says Marcelle. “They are lovely homes to live in, so we keep repeating.”
What they’ve loved most is the location and the ease of living – rarely needing the car on weekends, especially with the Remuera shops just a five-minute stroll away. Evening walks up Mount Hobson are a ritual, even in bad weather.
“They’re pretty small things but when you do a lot of small things over a long time it becomes significant,” says Dean. “It’s also a calm, soothing and restful place to be. It’s a very liveable home and it’s been a very easy home to live in and raise a family.”
This is certainly not your average 1970s townhouse, says Steve Koerber, of Bayleys.
“It has been carefully remastered using the concepts of Wabi-sabi – a Japanese aesthetic and philosophy that celebrates the beauty found in imperfection, impermanence, and embraces simplicity.”
- 11C Omahu Road in Remuera, Auckland, goes to auction on March 11
