This award-winning home couldn’t be more different than its predecessor on site, which housed its owners and their two children for more than a decade.
One of the owners, who collaborated extensively with Young+Richards+ on the project, says: “It’s hard for me to describe this house in a few words, because I had such a hand in its creation and it feels like part of me.
“It’s the biggest sculpture I’ve ever attempted. The vision was two pristine white cubes, which had seemingly tumbled down the hill to settle on this solid basalt rock plinth at street level.”
It won HOME magazine’s 2025 Home of the Year Readers’ Choice Award.
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“When we originally moved here in 2010 it was definitely for the location in a quiet cul-de-sac, a few minutes’ drive from the beach, and zoned for St Thomas’s Primary School.”
The previous 1970s home was then around 40 years old and getting tired; dark inside and effectively a fridge in winter and an oven in summer because of a lack of insulation. They lived in it for 11 years, considered and rejected the compromises renovation would deliver before having Young+Richards+ conceive this new home.
Completed in late 2023, it’s awash with beautiful light, fusing contemporary elegance with family functionality and relating beautifully to its landscape in a way its predecessor definitely did not.
“After renting near St Heliers beach during the build we realised how lucky we were coming back here, to the wonderful sense of privacy in this quiet cul-de-sac. The loudest noises we hear are the birds and neighbours occasionally mowing their lawns.”
The home’s geometric design, reminding some of Brazilian modernist aesthetic, was no flight of fancy but a highly considered site-specific response to its setting.
Barfoot & Thompson agent Justa Bain says: “From the street this exceptionally high quality home seems somewhat unassuming.” Photo / Supplied
The striking trapezoid cantilever roof projects out across a portion of the saltwater swimming pool, guaranteeing some shade. Photo / Supplied
Evoking a rock plinth, honeycomb basalt veneer wraps around the lower level, which houses the storage rich internal-access double garage with gym, and continues around the sides of this lushly landscaped home. Construction utilises the BRANZ-appraised INTEGRA Lightwght Concrete Façade System by Resene Construction Systems, giving the appearance of monochromatic hewn stone.
A side entrance leads to sculptural staircases rising up within the home, inside and outside mirrored through a soaring glass-clad stairwell.
The second level’s restful ensuited master suite with walk-in wardrobe enjoys separation from three other bedrooms (another also ensuited), thanks to a living room with tongue-and-groove cedar gracing the ceiling and one wall.
The bedrooms and this living space flow out to a private level of outdoor living. This level also provides gallery space displaying their art, a bathroom and separate laundry and storage. The top floor serves as a private pavilion with 270° of floor-to-ceiling glass skilfully melded with the upper level of outdoor space.
Sitting towards the rear of its 799sqm of land, it contains the oak-floored living-dining-kitchen with engineered porcelain benchtops, Gaggenau appliances and scullery. This space is fantastic for entertaining, its beautiful tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling continuing above a partially covered deck with svelte outdoor fireplace and spa pool nearby.
The beautiful tongue-and-groove cedar ceiling continues above a partially covered deck with svelte outdoor fireplace and spa pool nearby. Photo / Supplied
The owners collaborated extensively with Young+Richards+ on the project. Photo / Supplied
The striking trapezoid cantilever roof projects out across a portion of the saltwater swimming pool, guaranteeing some shade.
“When you look out to the south from this top level you look over a valley, a wonderful treed vista with houses poking through.”
The home has state-of-the-art Creston home automation throughout, enabling full control of its integrated features from the palm of your hand.
Barfoot & Thompson agent Justa Bain says: “From the street this exceptionally high quality home seems somewhat unassuming. Step into the main living space and marvel at the blurring of boundaries between indoors and outdoor alfresco entertaining, wonderfully private within perfectly manicured gardens.”
12 Berowald Place in Saint Heliers, Auckland, is on the market for sale by auction, on October 22.
- Sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson
