- An award-winning estate on Takapuna beach, designed by Sir Ian Athfield, is for sale.
- The 1778sqm property includes a main house and two guest houses, totalling eight bedrooms.
- Listing agent Andrew Dorreen expects the sale price to exceed $20m, with international interest.
An award-winning estate on Auckland’s Takapuna beach has hit the market for sale – and could well break the $20 million mark.
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The 1778sqm property at 25-27 William Street boasts a striking bach-like home that ambles down to the sand and two guest houses at the rear, with a total of eight bedrooms.
Well known to beach visitors, Takapuna House was designed by noted architect Sir Ian Athfield and his son Zac and Nick Strachan, of Athfield Architects, and won the Auckland New Zealand Institute of Architects award when it was completed in 2013.
Listing agent Andrew Dorreen, of Precision Real Estate, said it was an estate sale following the death of the owner, a well-known figure in the suburb.
The property comprises three houses - a main dwelling and two guest houses - and was designed by Athfield Architects. Photo / Supplied
The main house looks out to the water and is known for its vintage beach shed. Photo / Supplied
While he was reluctant to discuss price, he did highlight the $18m-plus sale of a luxury property further along the beach on Blomfield Spa, which he concluded last year.
Dorreen said interest in 25-27 William Street had been building, even before the listing went live. “We have people lined up to view it late next week. We expect international interest,” he told OneRoof, adding that a prominent overseas property executive was among those making enquiries.
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“He said he thought this was one of the most unique properties he has ever seen that’s come to market. I can’t think of anywhere north of Auckland that has this, let alone Takapuna Beach.”
Unusually for a stretch of beach that is home to rich-listers and some of the country’s most expensive houses, 25-27 William Street is unfenced and boasts a vintage changing shed on the beach.
On one side is the French-style chateau that tech entrepreneur Guy Haddleton sold a year ago for over $15m, and on the other is the imposing 1920s mansion built by one of Auckland’s wealthiest dynasties, the Winstone family.
The property, which has an RV of more than $16m, is attracting overseas interest. Photo / Supplied
Athfield Architects described the estate at 25-27 William Street as a “small collection of containers or vessels” for the late owners’ extended family – at the time, that was six children and 18 grandchildren.
All three houses are built with timber and concrete, with sliding screens shielding the glass walls facing the beach. Working in harmony inside are cedar tongue and groove walls, wood beams, folded steel staircases and concrete. Weathered brass on one of the guest houses, known as the gatehouse, adds an unexpected twist of glamour on the streetside.
The main beachfront house has four bedrooms (although one is currently used as a family room), four bathrooms, an office and a second sitting room adjoining the primary suite.
The middle guest house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms over three floors, and has its own living room, kitchen, and laundry, as well as multiple decks.
Listing agent Andrew Dorreen is also selling another Athfield Architects-designed house at 24 Channel View Road, in Campbells Bay. Photo / Supplied
The gate house at the rear is also spread over three floors, and has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a roof-top deck. There is also parking and garaging for seven cars.
In his advertising, Dorreen said the property was a landmark and a “sensational opportunity”, noting it combined “industrial permanence with refined coastal living”. He said the second and third houses would suit staff accommodation, an office or, as the late owner intended, a compound for extended family.
It is not the only Athfield Architects house Dorreen has on his books. He is also marketing an original 1970s house designed by Sir Ian at 24 Channel View Road, in Campbells Bay.
It has the classic Athfield nooks and crannies, including a sunken living room, plastered concrete domes, circular windows and a turret entrance tower.
It sits on a 4000sqm bush-covered section with a stream, and includes a heated pool, spa and guest studio.
The vendors, who bought the property in 2010 for $2.7m, did a full rebuild seven years ago, and are selling it by negotiation.
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