An urban tale
Photography Tony Nyberg (portrait)
Sitting pretty in the city, there’s a lot to love about these townhouses that emphasise the positives of medium-density design
THE NUMBER OF building consents for new townhouses, flats and units in Auckland reached a 10-year high in 2021, with more than 8000 consents granted in the year ending June. As more Kiwis start to experience medium-density living, it’s less a case of abandoning the quarter-acre dream, and more an opportunity to be grasped with both hands as the benefits become clear. Weekends spent weeding or sprucing up paintwork on an old, cold villa are replaced with visiting a gallery, having friends around for a long lunch, and a post-prandial stroll in the park. The lock-up-and-leave aspects of owning a home where security is no issue holds great appeal and even young families are more in tune with the buying smaller is smarter mantra. Of course, not all townhouses are created equal. When you’re living closer to neighbours, it pays to look for dwellings designed to balance privacy with enough light, and a build quality that is solidly crafted. This boutique development in the seaside suburb of Herne Bay is a contemporary expression of the form. Three standalone townhouses, oriented to capture sun F
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