Text by Vic Bibby, photography by Sarah Horn
The Napier Hill home belonging to German natives Gernot Goex and his partner Peter, was originally built in the 1890s, with some renovations required after the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake. Throughout the years, it has sat quietly among the trees and birds while the busy road bustles below. Its magnificent view down the valley to the sea beyond was captured by its most famous resident, Rita Angus, in a painting which can now be seen at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
After travelling New Zealand in search of the perfect home, Gernot and Peter brought and moved into the house in 2003. The cottage had been largely untouched since the 1930s so the pair spent two months renovating and turning the house into a warm and colourful home where they could display their extensive collection of art and furniture.
In Germany most people rent their homes and are required to keep the walls neutral, so it was exciting to fill their New Zealand home with colour. The dining room and hallway are the darkest rooms in the house, so rather than try to lighten them, they chose rich, warm tones of gold and red to create a sense of cosiness. The lightest rooms in the house are often drenched in sunlight, and their walls are painted white to reflect this.
A high stud and the beautifully detailed ceilings show off the wide range of amazing light fixtures, many bought in Germany. Most of the furniture was also brought over from Germany – and it’s a sure sign that the house was meant to be, as everything fits perfectly, right down to the hallway rug. Gernot’s father was a dentist and some of his original office furniture has found a place in the home, as well as in Gernot’s heart. “Open the drawers and, all these years later, I can still smell my father’s dentist surgery” he says.
When it came to putting in the new kitchen, space was at a premium. The U-shaped design takes advantage of the fabulous view, and the benchtops have been kept shallow so as not to encroach into the room. The one exception is where the end of the bench has been especially built to hold the coffee machine. “That’s the most important thing in the kitchen,” says Gernot.
In 2012 Gernot and Peter bought a piece of neighbouring land in order to extend their house. At that time, the position of the deck meant that friends had to walk through their bedroom when they were entertaining outdoors. The new extension allowed the room adjoining the deck to be turned into another living room, and a more private bedroom was added in the new wing.
The extension went very smoothly with the help of architectural designer Don Pitt Design and builder Julian Davis and his company Davcon. The decision was made to follow the line of the steep hill rather than digging into it. One of the biggest challenges was building the retaining wall to meet the new building standards which, since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, have become even more stringent. Now, the stability of that wall means the couple can sleep easy – especially ass their bedroom is right below it!
Where the original entrance door was situated there is now a set of custom-made French doors, which link the old and the new. The floor and roof levels are consistent, but step through the doors into an interior of clean, modern lines and it’s clear you’re in the new part of the home. The back wall is painted a soft lemon and proudly displays a series of framed wine and beer labels collected on the couple’s travels. Teamed with a set of yellow dentistry drawers from Germany and a framed sign unearthed in their garden, it all tells a lovely story.
WHO LIVES HERE? Gernot Goex (retired owner of Gernot’s Gold fruit preserves) and his partner Peter, both originally from Berlin.
GERNOT, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN HAWKE’S BAY? We travelled all around New Zealand many times in the 1990s before settling in Napier in 2003. We love everything about it – the weather is beautiful, the people are friendly, there is amazing wine and fresh produce, and I love the sea. Our house is only a 10-minute walk to the CBD and 15 minutes to Ahuriri and the beach.
HOW DO YOU LINK THE NEW EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING PART OF THE HOUSE? By matching the outside weatherboards and keeping the ceiling height the same so they flow together. But we wanted both halves to be defined. The new extension was built in the 21st century and we wanted to reflect that. The two halves run together seamlessly, but it’s quite obvious which half is which.
In 2012 Gernot and Peter bought a piece of neighbouring land in order to extend their house. At that time, the position of the deck meant that friends had to walk through their bedroom when they were entertaining outdoors. The new extension allowed the room adjoining the deck to be turned into another living room, and a more private bedroom was added in the new wing.
The extension went very smoothly with the help of architectural designer Don Pitt Design and builder Julian Davis and his company Davcon. The decision was made to follow the line of the steep hill rather than digging into it. One of the biggest challenges was building the retaining wall to meet the new building standards which, since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, have become even more stringent. Now, the stability of that wall means the couple can sleep easy – especially ass their bedroom is right below it!
Where the original entrance door was situated there is now a set of custom-made French doors, which link the old and the new. The floor and roof levels are consistent, but step through the doors into an interior of clean, modern lines and it’s clear you’re in the new part of the home. The back wall is painted a soft lemon and proudly displays a series of framed wine and beer labels collected on the couple’s travels. Teamed with a set of yellow dentistry drawers from Germany and a framed sign unearthed in their garden, it all tells a lovely story.
The bedroom gains warmth and texture from the exposed ply on the back wall. Tucked around the corner is an enviable walk-in wardrobe, and doors open out onto a deck which enjoys that beautiful view over the garden and across the valley.
The garden has been a work in progress. Over the past eight years Gernot and Peter have turned the jumble of weeds into a stunning garden spread over several levels. Native and fruit trees abound, with exciting finds around every corner – a water feature, ceramic sculptures, and ceramic tiles made by a friend are scattered along the paths and on the walls.
It’s lovely to walk up the steps trough the luxuriant garden to arrive at the front door which, with its quirky porthole windows, gives you a hint of what’s to come: a home bursting with history, personality and stories.
GERNOTE, WHAT’S THE BEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED IN REGARDS TO HOME PROJECTS? That it was so exciting I would love to do it again.
WHAT’S THE MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE YOUV’E HAD IN YOUR HOME? When my 85-year-old father visited us from Germany in 2009. Walking up the steps with him was very special. Finishing the extension and moving the bedroom from one side of the house to the other was another highlight.
HOW MUCH HAVE YOU SPENT ON YOUR HOME? Over the 10 years between 2003 and 2013 we probably spent approximately $400,000.
BEST ADVICE WHEN IT COMES TO SPENDING MONEY ON A HOME? If you’ve worked well with tradesmen like plumbers or electricians over the years and you are happy with their work, stick to them. It’s not worth trying to find cheaper ones. They just cause a mess.
ARE THERE ANY PROFESSIONALS YOU’VE USED THAT YOU CAN RECOMMEND? Builder Davcon Ltd, Julian Davis, Napier, davcon.co.nz. We were very happy with the building process; smooth and clean. And they stuck to the budget. Once the calculated money for the crane was used up, they did not ask for more money, they just carried it up themselves.
Architectural Designer Don Pitt Design, Napier, 06 833 7934. His design skills are amazing. He listens to the customers and adds great ideas.
