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The late Len Castle is one of our most beloved ceramic artists – his works are in high demand and fetch high prices at auctions.
And now, the Titirangi house where he made his pottery has hit the market. The house, on Tawini Road, was designed for Castle in the 1960s by group architect James Hackshaw.
Current owners Paul Keesing and Tansy Hayden, who bought the property in 2018, have listed the house because they plan to live on a yacht: “We’re going from being anchored here in the bush to being anchored in the sea,” Keesing says.
The couple say they initially fell in love with the way the house was submerged in the jungle. “It has a very light feel,” says Keesing. “It’s very frame-like, almost temporary, but it’s pretty solid at the same time.”
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Since then, they have studied its architectural significance and the stories it tells about the artist, who passed away in 2011. They say they keep discovering more things that emphasize how special he is.
“We feel like we’ve been caretakers, rather than owners,” Keesing says. “We have discovered, for example, that all the masonry outside came from one of the first kilns Len built. We began to find fragments of his pottery, which he used as a filler between the bricks. A large cup-shaped piece makes a great chandelier.
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As close to nature as possible: The house designed for Len’s castle is located amidst native bushes on Tawini Road, Titirangi.
“Recently, I was clearing the garden under a bush hut where Barry Crump would be staying when he came to Auckland, and I found bottles downstairs. After having a few beers, he would throw the bottles into the bush. “
Keesing, who has a background in fine arts, says he has always appreciated Castle’s work and is intrigued by Hackshaw’s architecture and the way it references the artist’s work.
“Designing a house that references Japanese architecture just a decade after World War II ended would probably have gone against public sentiment at the time.
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The high vaulted ceiling, with its exposed trusses and skylights, enhances the feeling of space and light.
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Built-in wooden shelving remains a feature of the open-plan living room.
“Calling it the Japanese House and having echoes of Japanese culture was quite extraordinary. But there is a link there with Len’s raku pottery. [which was inspired by traditional Japanese raku firing]. “
Keesing says he recently contacted the architect’s daughter. “Remember going to the house as a child and looking through it. I have extended an invitation to you to come and have a glass of bubbles on the terrace in the mountains. I will also extend it to the architect’s son. “
The couple have modernized the house, but have not made any structural changes. They put air conditioning throughout the house, which instantly cut the energy bill in half. They also added insulated blinds on the skylights, painted the interior, and did some landscaping.
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There is a large contemporary kitchen with two islands.
“We’ve kept everything in its original form and function, but we’ve made it a bit more contemporary.”
Keesing says they have framed photos of Castle building his furnace, which they will leave with the house when it is sold.
Key features of the three-bedroom, 275-square-foot home include the huge vaulted ceiling in the living room, built-in furniture, and large skylights. There is also a large modern kitchen with two long islands.
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The house opens onto a large terrace that increases the feeling of being in the mountains.
Castle’s furnace and work room (since it was dismantled) were in a large area under the house, which could be converted into a study.
The property has been listed by Ray White Ponsonby’s Lynn Lacy-Hauck, and will be offered for sale at auction on March 31, 2021.
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Owner Paul Keesing and Tansy Hayden say they continue to find shards of Len Castle pottery. Bricks from his first kiln have been used in the landscaping.
