Pine Harbour: Auckland’s ‘best kept secret’ no more

Pine Harbour on Auckland’s eastern seaboard is already well known for its marina, boutique shopping, bars and eateries, walkways and nearby recreation facilities – and for its proximity to downtown Auckland via a 35-minute ferry service.

What house buyers in search of quality living are discovering is that Pine Harbour also offers the contemporary attraction of an exclusive, private community with a range of high quality, stylish new homes which  add a compelling layer of panache to the meaning of ‘lifestyle’.

Every home has been individually planned and created, most designed initially by award-winning Steven Lawson Architects.

Where else can you live, socialise and play in a safe environment, within walking distance of reliable transport to work? Where else can living be so cosmopolitan and convenient – so sustainable; so neighbourly and so ‘today’?

Five years ago the then property developers Pine Harbour Living engaged Jalcon to be part of the team creating this nest of high quality modern living precincts.

With a portfolio of over 1200 Auckland-built homes and as many satisfied customers to their credit JAL Construction, trading as Jalcon Homes, has won multiple awards and a reputation for delivering original, elegant yet pleasingly convenient living spaces.

When Lindsay and Julie Aitken set up their Property and Construction company 22 years ago they were determined on three critical matters: they’d create a family-owned and managed business; that way they’d be able to guarantee integrity of design, build and finish; and they’d stand behind their workmanship with seriously meaningful multiple guarantees: a 10-year Master Build Guarantee, a 15-year Weather Tight Warranty and a 50-year Structural Guarantee.

Today that commitment is as strong as ever and as Jalcon continues to build well-designed, high quality homes in Auckland, it’s not surprising that their reputation for excellence has made the company a natural partner in the Pine Harbour project.

Steven Lawson’s brief was to design innovative buildings in harmony with the land and sea, so naturally the architects prescribed shades of grey, reflecting sea and sky scapes. Jalcon refined that prescription to New Zealand Steel’s COLORSTEEL® Maxx® because that range has been specifically developed to withstand higher atmospheric salt concentrations and was therefore well suited to Pine Harbour’s coastal location.

The development involves two distinct housing precincts: The Brae, where the surrounding grounds are managed, and The Quarters. A commercial and recreational area alongside the marina is known as The Landing. 

Hugging the contours of the hilly ‘brae’ terrain, the 12 family houses on The Brae enjoy views to the north-east and overlook well-planted wetlands on the hillside behind. 

These houses are in the style of a contemporary interpretation of the Cape Cod design – with a touch of the Kiwi boatshed and English beach hut, in keeping with the seaside location.  

Modelling on their houses ‘back home’, the English colonists of the late 1600s built their new homes to withstand the vicious Atlantic storms. The typical Cape Cod cottage was steep-roofed and clad in unpainted cedar shake shingles which in time weathered from a warm tan to a silvery grey. 

The individually designed houses on The Brae also feature cedar – and pine, with COLORSTEEL® Maxx® pre-painted steel facades and roofing in ‘Smokey’ and ‘Thunder Grey’, interspersed with wood finished in paint or stain. Splashes of vibrant burnt orange hint at the warm tan of fresh cedar.

While the Cape Cod home was 17th-century simple, without embellishment, designed for easy construction and efficient heating, these homes on The Brae are simple in concept, yet stunningly sophisticated in function. 

All have modern layouts with an innovative use of space. Each contemporary two-storey house is designed to high specification, featuring 3-bedroom family homes; double garage with internal access; a study; vaulted ceilings and spacious, natural-light filled open-plan living areas, leading to covered decked areas, which encourage  appreciation of the views and enjoyment of year-round outdoor/indoor living. 

Nearby, The Quarters overlook the marina and The Landing. This precinct hosts both sophisticated lock-up-and-leave terraced housing on the north side – now completed - and exclusive west-facing seaview apartment-style living where construction has just begun. 

With less travel time comes less stress, leaving residents with more time to relax in peaceful surroundings in good company.

More leisure time means Pine Harbour’s The landing is a vibrant focal point, an open space bordered by a blend of restaurants, cafés and bars, and yet but a stroll from The Quarters and just a couple of minutes walk from The Brae. Adjoining The Landing is the Village Green where a Saturday Fresh Market flourishes and community events are staged.

Until recently Pine Harbour was surely one of Auckland’s best-kept-secret residential housing developments where, as Jalcon claims, their houses are ‘designed for living and built for life’.