Drama by Design

Approaching along a hillside road above Karaka Bays, the drama of this home builds right to the front door. Beyond a garden that's grown thick enough to hide the neighbours, a pedestrian bridge carries you the last leg, the harbour opening out below. Ten minutes from the city, and it feels like another country. 

The house was designed by Ian Athfield in the 1960s, and the bones are unmistakably his – the curved rooflines, the sculptural plaster. It's been masterfully updated and extended since, introducing modern finishes that only enhance the original architecture. 

The living spaces are generous but intimate – kitchen, dining and living areas that open into each other when the house is full of people, and a separate lounge and library for quieter moments. Expansive windows frame the ever-changing harbour beyond. 

Most of the home is arranged over two levels, with a primary suite that sits apart as its own retreat, with a walk-in wardrobe, generous ensuite and private path to the spa and sauna.  

Outside, automated doors slide open to a sheltered pool terrace with spa, sauna and fire pit. Paths wind down to the water's edge, reinforcing the home's enduring connection to its remarkable setting.

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