The Auckland suburb of Waiatarua is deep in the Waitakere Ranges, draped in bush with sweeping views back to the Sky Tower and the city: it’s been compared to Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, that winding, sinewy road with panoramic views. Not surprisingly, these hills attracted progressive clients and creative architects who built some striking modernist classics – though few are quite as breathtaking as this one.
Designed in 1964 by the firm of Warwick & Wright, the house offers a fascinating counterpoint to what was, at the time, often an architecture of humility in this country. Not much is known of Warwick & Wright – though Alan Warwick went on to become a celebrated yacht designer. Here, instead of unpainted concrete block and timber, the architects played with horizontal and vertical planes and Japanese influences to create light-filled, glamorous spaces and a tessellated plan that steps down the hill, drawing light and views into every room.
The site sits on a small knoll, around which West Coast Road wraps. You approach the house from the high side, approaching an open carport, and entering through a covered portico. Double doors open into a soaring four-metre atrium, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking back to the city. It’s breathtaking.
The atrium is the hinge of the house: living spaces and kitchen to the left, with a living room centred around a massive open fireplace and large windows looking to the view. Sliding doors off the dining area lead to a sheltered north-western courtyard. Two bedrooms sit on the other side – with a further bedroom and study downstairs at ground level.
In almost completely original condition, the house is now for sale with Team Higham Real Estate. The house’s beautiful planning and thoughtful spaces offer the opportunity to refresh and update – but above all, to enjoy a classic piece of modernism.
900 West Coast Road
Waiatarua
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
