This absolute waterfront, five-year-old architecturally-designed eco-home utilises advanced materials and components but its owners used the old school method of putting flyers in letterboxes to buy the stunning site.
Fay, co-owner with husband John, says: “We loved coming out to the beach here with our children when they were young and John especially wanted a waterfront home.”
Their “wanting to buy” letterbox drop resulted in them purchasing this 1760sqm property which had a 1960s bach on it, with people living in it. “The previous owner was overseas at the time and because it was occupied we could only look at the fibrolite bach from the beach.”
But what enthralled them was the very usable, relatively flat 1760sqm of waterfront land. It has its own concrete boat ramp with winch, access to the beach (or the water at high tide) and a seawall elevating their land comfortably above the high tide line.
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John’s background is in sustainability so when builders advised against renovating the bach, they commissioned Fernandes Architects to design a high-performing eco-home to replace it. It won builders Craft Homes a regional silver award in the 2022 Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards, for New Homes $1m–$1.5m.
Their home gazes at the calm waters of Cornwallis Beach and across the Manukau Harbour from its exceptionally private and quiet location, about 100m from Cornwallis Wharf.
Fay says: “We’ve lived here but someone might buy it as a holiday home because it’s 45 minutes from the CBD but you feel like you’re in a different world. We’ve had seals basking on our boat ramp and watched a family of orcas swim under the wharf.”
There’s plentiful seafood and birdlife. They affectionately call their separate BBQ-entertaining area under cover very near the sea, where they love watching goings on with family, “the front patio”.
The absolute waterfront, five-year-old, architecturally-designed eco-home gazes at the calm waters of Cornwallis Beach. Photo / Supplied
“It’s a cost-efficient home to run and you can get up at 3am in the winter and it’s not cold,” says co-owner John. Photo / Supplied
The owners affectionately call their BBQ-entertaining area under cover very near the sea “the front patio”, where they love watching goings on with family. Photo / Supplied
The 172sqm home’s exterior teams super-durable heat-treated weatherboard product Abodo Vulcan cladding with long-run Colorsteel, also used in its roof. Combined with high-performance German-made windows, smart membranes, structural insulated panels and code-exceeding insulation, it’s an energy-efficient home.
It’s often opened up to outdoors but can become an airtight thermal envelope, utilising an advanced ventilation-heat recovery system to ensure a constant supply of fresh air and prevent moisture build-up.
John says: “It’s a cost-efficient home to run and you can get up at 3am in the winter and it’s not cold.”
There’s also a low-emission enclosed indoor fireplace, a low current-drawing hot water system and rainwater harvesting. The sloped ceiling soars in the open-plan living-dining area, adjacent to the smart kitchen in the T-shaped residence.
You can see the sea from inside through massive expanses of glass and there are decks on all sides; their favourite being the covered one this open-plan expanse flows out to.
The home won the builders, Craft Homes, a regional silver award in the 2022 Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards, for New Homes $1m-$1.5m. Photo / Supplied
There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms, multiple living and entertainment zones inside and outdoors, with off-street parking. Photo / Supplied
One of this level’s three bedrooms (they’ve used one as a second living area) is ensuited, plus there’s a main bathroom and a sophisticated laundry. Upstairs is a bunk room where their grandchildren sleep.
Much of the grounds (on which one daughter married a few years ago) are in lawn, although they’ve planted a mix of subtropical and native plants, complementing a mature yellow-flowering pohutukawa. There are walking tracks in Waitakere Regional Park, which is two properties away, and it’s about 13km to Titirangi’s shops, cafes and supermarket.
Now they’re in their seventies the couple have decided to move to a smaller property, closer to family.
Ray White agent Craig Smith says: “Properties of this calibre – with beachfront access, architectural pedigree, and such a spectacular natural setting – are incredibly rare.”
124 Cornwallis Road in Cornwallis, Waitakere City, Auckland, is on the market for sale by auction to be held on April 18.
- Sponsored by Ray White
