Apartments and multi-unit dwellings are not new. Some of our best were built over 100 years ago, demonstrate that the density can be quite beautiful.
Some were originally built for housing, others converted from industrial or commercial buildings - all are hugely sought after, and don’t come with the million dollar price tags of architect-designed new builds.
Barfoot & Thompson agent Liz Derbyshire, who specialises in character buildings around Auckland, says that there are buyers on her databases who want only historic architecture, tracking new listings even before they hit the market.
“They have their own value, it’s not about square metres or dollars,” she says. “They have a cachet, an inherent value based on what they are. And the more original they are, the more valued.”
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The most sought-after in Auckland are Courtville, built in 1914 and 1919, and 1934 Westminster Court, both on Parliament Street, next to the courts and university. Others like George Courts, Whitcoulls, the Dilworth and Endean were converted from shops and offices in the 1990s, there are more around Emily Place, High and Lorne Streets. Inner-city “tram car” suburbs - Mount Eden, Parnell, Herne Bay and Ponsonby - also have clusters of low-rise 1930s apartment blocks.
Here are some of our favourites on OneRoof:
We found cool apartments in the classic George Courts on K-Road. Barfoot and Thompson’s Liz Derbyshire has an astounding 750sqm over two spaces that could be combined. GE4 has five bedrooms (or offices) spread over 378sqm, with mezzanines, boardrooms, designer kitchen in an open space with over five metre stud, while GE1 (365sqm) has flexible layout, modern kitchen and bathrooms, atrium and wrap-around mezzanine. GE4 is priced at $2.79 million while GE1 is price by negotiation.
>>> Go straight to the listing for GE4
>>> Go straight to the listing for GE1
There are more edgy apartments in the same building: 3M has mezzanine bedrooms tucked into high studs and is being marketed by City Sales' Kerry Aitken, with offers over $1.09 million sought. Suzie Paine, from Bayleys Ponsonby, is marketing 2E with two bedrooms, super modern kitchen and bathroom. The windows and jarrah floors are George Courts trademarks.
>>> Go straight to the listing for 3M
>>> Go straight to the listing for 2E
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The lower ground floor apartment in Westminster Court is one of a pair lovingly restored by interior designer Dawn Judge (the other sold pre-Christmas). The designer gutted the apartment back to its shell, leaving the original woodwork and headlight windows, then combed vintage suppliers and op-shops to fit out the two bedroom flat in period-appropriate style (the furniture can be negotiated as a package). There are mod cons (underfloor heating in addition to vintage-look radiators, microwave hidden in a meat safe, modern wiring behind bakelite switches) but the look is pure gentleman lawyer’s rooms circa 1930s.
Westminster Court has the bonus of communal lounge, gardens, guest rooms and pool.
Asking $1.12 million. Marketed by Liz Derbyshire, Barfoot & Thompson.
>>> Go straight to the listing
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In the same building, but with a thoroughly modern kitchen and bathrooms is the fifth floor apartment of 107sqm. Still the leadlights, picture rails and cornicing harks back to an earlier age.
Asking $1.1 million. Marketed by Robyn Ellson, Carla Pedersen, Ray White Ponsonby.
>>> Go straight to the listing
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Courtville has long shed its bohemian reputation, but its longevity to that cluster of creative residents who probably saved it from demolition in the horrors of the 1980s. Apartments in the 1914 block rarely come into the market. This one-bedder has the best of both worlds - original architraves, tiled fireplace, leadlight windows, brass and copper fixtures, a character bathroom - but the chance to do creative things with a tired kitchen (one of the biggest in the block).
>>> Go straight to the listing
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Around the corner in Emily Place are a few classic buildings. Apartment Specialists’ Mark Osborn has a 83sqm, two-bedroom apartment in the block converted in the 1990s from the 1920s warehouses and offices, with the industrial loft look that’s hard to find in Auckland. It ticks all the character boxes - high ceilings, steel, brick and wood - but someone’s done the work to modernise kitchen and bathroom. Price by negotiation.
>>> Go straight to the listing
Harry Jordan, from the same firm, has a crisply renovated 3a, with modern kitchen and bathrooms, great colour scheme in a roomy 108sqm. Price, as above, is by negotiation.
>>> Go straight to the listing
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Since the former Whitcoulls building, built in 1899, was converted to apartments in the early 2000s, its Victoria Street East location near galleries and Albert Park has made it popular. A fifth floor one-bedder of 63sqm, has airy corner position, smart apartment-sized kitchen and good bathroom, is listed is being marketed for sale by Harry Jordan for $619,000.
>>> Go straight to the listing
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St Patrick’s Square is one of the city’s rare gems, a refuge in more ways than one. Apartments overlooking the square get the the benefit of western sun, and character. This beauty has the desirable high stud and concrete construction, a roomy 68 square metres, currently in two bedrooms but with potential to add study or walk-in closet - and an even more desirable high earthquake rating. With new development coming at 51 Albert and the city rail link, this is going to be the next hot part of town. By negotiation. Marketed by Mark Osborn, Apartment Specialists.
>>> Go straight to the listing
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The grand old Guardian Trust building has all the flourishes - striking lobby and staircase, steel windows - which make the apartment conversions from the 2000s. While there isn’t the interior woodwork and character of a purpose-built Courtville, the high studs, pretty windows and tucked away corners make this a better buy than a new-build box.
Ray White City Apartments’ May Ma has a 35sqm one-bedder tucked in a quiet corner for $389,000.
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Once it is pedestrianised, High Street will be back to being one of Auckland’s favourite lanes and the Soho Lofts will really come into its own. This roomy apartments fully spans east to west, with views of Queen Street, a covered terrace and super high ceilings. With clever concealed storage, smart kitchen, this is New York-style.
By negotiation. Marketed by Diane Jackson, Julie Quinton, Bayleys Apartments City Living.
>>> Go straight to the listing
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Also try 185sqm loft apartment in Sale Street, behind Victoria Park markets. It has the classic exposed brick and industrial wood beams and columns, marketed with deadline treaty by Bayleys James Were and Scott Kirk.
>>> Go straight to the listing
