When Michael Black moved to the big smoke in 1980, he immediately fell in love with St Heliers.
The law student and ‘Hobbit from Matamata’ moved into a small apartment on Auckland Road, right in the heart of what’s now one of Auckland’s most affluent suburbs. In 1984, he bought a piece of land further down the road. Thirty seven years on, he’s still on Auckland Road and loving it just as much as he did then.
“Back then, St Heliers was largely undeveloped. It was so close to the beach, to wide open spaces, and I just knew it would be the kind of place that I could settle down in and never want to leave.”
In 1994, Michael and his wife Paula built the first rendition of 14 Auckland Road. The brief to architect Wayne Houston was to maximise both the views and the site. In the last year, the home has seen a total transformation. Michael and Paula reclad the house in charcoal Nu-Wall aluminium cladding, creating a home that looks like a sculpture.
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“Because it’s virtually black and our surname is Black, we call the house Black Magic,” says Michael.
“And it really is magic. Architecturally it looks like a stealth bomber with a nautical look. It’s really exotic.”
The roof deck atop the third storey has uninterrupted views through glass balustrades, across the Vellenoweth Green and out to Rangitoto Island.
“I used to like launching fireworks from the roof deck throughout the year – childish, I know!” laughs Michael.
“There’s fake grass up there which feels like you’re walking on carpet. We have hosted many parties up there and the space would make for a great mini golf course or outdoor yoga studio too.”
The property has five bedrooms, four bathrooms and two garages. Inside is a unique mix of curves, angles, and stairways, which “makes it a great house to play hide-and-seek in”. Plans are available to add a lift to the property, making it easier to get between floors.
While the home looks like something from the pages of a high-end architecture magazine, it would look equally comfortable on the pages of a travel brochure.
“There’s a pool, spa and dry sauna outside, spa, steam room and gym inside, and the beach is about 150 metres away. All you need is a private chef and you’d never have to leave!”
Ray White agent Ricky Cave, who is marketing the property, says 14 Auckland Road is special because of the plethora of opportunities it offers.
“This house is really two houses in one,” says Ricky.
“You could treat the top two floors and roof deck as a high-spec apartment, then have three teenagers, extended family or an au pair down on the ground floor, and you’d never know they were there.”
The property is marketed with an asking price of $4.95m.
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