An architect’s home offers a rare opportunity to invest in a design classic.
There’s something about an architect’s home that makes it special: choice of materials; a masterly appreciation of light and space; shape and colour.
All these qualities are in ample evidence in House Among the Trees, in Pinehaven in the Hutt Valley, the home that architect Jon Craig designed for his own family in 1969.
Now for sale for only the second time, the home offers a new buyer the opportunity to invest in a design classic.
Craig, who died in 2015 aged 73, helped form Craig, Craig, Moller, one of New Zealand’s leading architectural practices. A lover of art, music, and literature, Craig sought to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity that would both inspire and soothe.
House Among the Trees was recognised with the 1990 National Award for Architecture from the NZ Institute of Architects.
The 190 sq m house maximizes space on the 825 sq m section. Conceived as an L-shaped structure, it consists of a double-height cube with a pitched roof, connected to a single story “sunken” wing (a later extension). There are also twin single garages with a home studio above.
Construction is a mix of white-painted concrete, cedar and rimu, massive douglas fir beams, brick detailing, and a bespoke aluminium roof—together giving a timeless look and a touch of personality that sets it apart from many newer homes.
Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the interior in light and capture vistas of the trees. Craig was fascinated by light and shade and wanted the house to mirror the natural forested world outside. Thoughtful built-in shelving and storage everywhere are typical of Craig’s attention to detail.
Rooms include an intimate dining room, a sunny lounge with French doors opening to the garden, and an L-shaped family-friendly kitchen.
Stairs lead up to two generous sized bedrooms, while the main bedroom downstairs—with a new ensuite—is part of the extension, which includes a beautiful garden lounge room.
Extensive double glazing helps keep the home at an even temperature, while central heating makes it cosy in winter.
An established garden, outdoor fire, and spa pool enhance the outdoor spaces.
Current owners, Anna and David Tingey, who bought the house six years ago, have loved their time here.
“The evening sun filtering through the beech trees is my favourite time of day—the forest becomes enchanted!” says Anna. “We have an abundance of tuis and they come to my call to be fed from a jam jar of sugar water on our fence.”
The Tingeys have also enjoyed the many nearby recreational opportunities, cafes, amenities, and good transport connections to Wellington.
“We’re moving as David has started work in Nelson. We’ve lived in many interesting houses but this home feels very special. It will be a challenge to find another home as enticing and rewarding as Jon Craig’s House Among the Trees,” says Anna.
86 Blue Mountains Road, Pinehaven
The property is By Negotiation.
For more information, see: https://www.tommys.co.nz/property/86-blue-mountains-road-pinehaven-5019/, or call Sinead Diederich, of Tommy’s Real Estate, 021 025 81 960.
