Back in the 1960s, about the same time as NZ’s first ever TV broadcast, three houses were built on the ridge overlooking Coxs Bay.
No speculative developers in those days, these were carefully crafted by a builder who constructed 30 West End Road and the two houses either side for himself and family.
As the section slopes away gradually then steeply towards the mangroves of Coxs Park this family still tell stories of fishing for flounder off the muddy banks below, days in the sun, exploration in the bushy slopes, fun, family and connection to the whenua, generations enjoying the unique outlook and position of these grand old ladies.
Positioned to have a brilliant view of Coxs Park and the tidal waters below, there is a strong connection with the sea as well.
In fact, 30 West End was designed to enable boat building from the 130 sqm middle floor garage/workshop and was set out with kauri work benches and a thousand places to store tools and wood. It was the ultimate man den.
Several generations of the same family lived here for many years, the house eventually became a rental before we purchased it in 2020.
We looked at how we could reinvigorate this site and sought and received resource consent for a second dwelling on the flattish part of the site (now rear lawn). There are many other possible options here to do something amazing in this part of Herne Bay.
However, the potential of the main home was something that everyone who visited always mentioned. Ideas abounded for re-configuring the building and surroundings, and eventually we realised that the house is of great value and needed some love, 21st Century style.
The big issues were connection. There was absolutely no connection between the house and the rear section other than a muddy slope and no way to easily access the land that beckons so well from the windows of the top and middle floors.
This was rectified with an extensive deck and walkways to the rear and steps from both floors, surrounded with beautiful ferns that echo the huge nikau and exotic palms growing on the rear section.
Internally the stairs were relocated and re-designed to enable the building to become a three-storey home and not three separate disconnected spaces.
Where possible, we have tried to find a second use for some of the native timber that was stored or in use on the property. In particular, the second-floor workbench tops were solid kauri and have found a new life on the lower floor as we opened up a few extra square metres of flooring and rebuild the internal steps to the deck. Some of the planter boxes have rimu sleepers as the top layer, and some of the retaining walls are trimmed with recycled Rimu and totara.
Downstairs, the entry to the laundry and workshops is clad in pine boards we found under the house and carefully gave them a new life with a modern ‘distressed' look. We believe we have given this amazing, solid structure a new life, reconnecting it with the land and we are sure the old builder would smile to see his wood collection reused sympathetically.
There are exciting projects in the future for a new owner, maybe rebuilding steps down to the mangroves and a platform to fish for flounder with the next generations.
For more information: Cherry - 021 780 335
