Victor Rutherford reckons: “Life’s so much better when you wake up to a spectacular view” as he does in this waterfront home ‘The Lighthouse’ which dramatically steps down its site between Takapuna and Milford.
He explains it’s named for beautiful interior light rather than the ‘nautical lamp tower’ meaning. The dairy farmer fond of great architecture is in awe of its five-level design with tilted timber roof canopies and vast glass.
>>> Go straight to the listing
Victor says: “It’s spectacular. It makes you ever conscious the sea is just out there.
Start your property search
“And you feel so at one with nature, in a manner that reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house.”
He’s recently refurbished and reinvigorated the striking architecture, which had been well-loved by a family earlier on, after buying out the mate he purchased it with in 2008.
The home with additional waterfront access off Audrey Road began as a 1954 Ivan Juriss Group Architects’ residence before architect Felicity Wallace’s 1991 remodelling.
Almost all rooms admire water. It opens to two front decks, intimate courtyards and secure lower lawn.
The size of the cedar, plaster and concrete home with 180-degree views and two kitchens saw Victor and his wife Microsoft engineer Faranak Torabi sometimes tenant the lower portion pre-refurbishment.
Faranak says: “The outlook is magical. I’ve seen dolphins before I’ve even left for work, orcas and seals sunbathing on the rocks.”
The recent major upgrade replaced the main kitchen, aging exterior cedar and decks, re-polished floors and replaced some balustrades with glass.
Victor says: “It’s transformed how the house looks.”
This property at 31 Kitchener Road in Takapuna, Auckland, is selling by deadline sale closing Wed 10th July.
Bayleys Takapuna agent Victoria Bidwell says: “This property offers inspirational architecture and an incredible lifestyle which buyers may not normally be able to afford in return for the small compromise of not having conventional parking.”
Council allows occasional vehicular access along the waterfront access-way to the auto-gated lower entrance and single garage housing Victor’s Ferrari. Up top, owners may unload cars but not park long-term down a Kitchener Road shared driveway feeding the private entry path.
An upper striking sea view past The Lighthouse’s sweeping rooflines precedes a two-flight floating staircase descending while projecting from volcanic rock retaining walls. This traverses a sparkling infinity-edged swimming pool, feeding a waterfall the next level down, before reaching the front door.
Native timber floors and match-lined cedar ceilings enhance the ambiance. A private front deck flows off a living-dining-kitchen with gas fireplace and the pool enticing outside.
Faranak says: “In summer everyone wants to jump in the pool.”
Victor says: “It’s one of those houses everyone loves to visit.”
This level’s master bedroom’s sumptuous ensuite with bath accesses a deck with spa pool.
Faranak says: “It’s special waking to this view through pohutukawa to the sea.”
Upstairs is the uppermost level’s office and downstairs two sea-gazing bedrooms accompanying a bathroom and laundry.
Vaulted ceilings soar over the subsequent open-plan main living level with another front deck and side courtyard. Its lounge and dining space accompany a new entertainers’ kitchen with leather-finish granite benches, its scullery feeding a wine cellar built into the cliff.
Victor says: “It’s so great for entertaining that lunches often stretch into being dinner too.”
Given the additional ground floor, originally designed as a children’s level, there’s potential for blended or extended families, intergenerational living or home-and-income. Its three compact double bedrooms accompany a bathroom, laundry and the internal-access garage. Its tiled lounge flows out to the lawned end of the 888-square metre property with the coast beyond its auto-gated rock wall and Thorne Bay nearby.
With Faranak’s career often taking her overseas the couple plan to downsize in the area.
Find out more about 31 Kitchener Road, Takapuna
