First National New Zealand: Luxury property 'will break records'

A unique $6.3m trophy lifestyle property that has just come onto the market will be a record breaker for the Marlborough region, says its selling agent First National.

“˜Stone Aerie”, a fabulous 525m2 homestead on 35 acres (14ha) near Blenheim with a view across the Wairau Hills, Richmond Ranges and Cook Strait, is built of natural materials and melds with its surroundings.

Incorporating Matai flooring from the former Wellington Parliament debating chamber, over 600 tonnes of Tuamarina schist, 64 hand-adzed Australian iron bark poles and a hand split Canadian Cedar roof, Stone Aerie took two years to build.

The 17-year-old property belongs to former Hollywood lawyer Terry Shagin and his wife Francie.

Francie Shagin said the couple had lived in many different places in their lives, (from a 1971 VW campervan to a beach house in Ventura, California to an 18-storey Los Angeles high rise) but they had never built.

Moving to 35 acres near Blenheim almost 20 years ago provided them with the inspiration to build and “˜Stone Aerie”™ was the result.

“It took more than two years to create Stone Aerie and I intentionally use the verb “˜create”. This house is quite literally a work of art whose genius has astounded me every day of the 17 years we have had the privilege to own it,” Francie says.

“My favourite thing about Stone Aerie is the comment we hear most often - that despite its size, it feels like a home.”

Marketing agent Mark Stevenson, of First National Mark Stevenson in Blenheim, says the property will have strong international appeal.

“There are few homes in New Zealand like this, let alone Marlborough.

“From a regional perspective, elite lifestyle properties sell for around $2.5m so this will be a record breaker.

“Stone Aerie, designed by former Nelson architect Greg West and built by Graham Valk, is breathtaking in its modern, spacious design and luxury detailing, but is not ostentatious.

“Everything here is as natural as possible, from the wool insulation and hand finished cedar joinery to the German bio paint on the inner plaster walls.

“With a massive master bedroom, a guest wing with four bedrooms (two currently utilized as spacious studies), multiple bathrooms, a gym, a sauna, a small library, wine cellar, formal dining room and formal lounge, Stone Aerie is a fantastic place to live, work and play,” Stevenson says, describing the Shagins as “visionaries”.

“Surrounded by olive orchards on its 15ha, this is a real trophy property for someone who appreciates the integrity of natural materials, values privacy and loves entertaining.

“Overseas buyers with money to spend are often disappointed at the range of elite homes available in New Zealand. In Stone Aerie, they will discover that they can own a heritage home in New Zealand that will exceed their expectations.”

Now retired, the Shagins are hoping to build a smaller home on just one or two acres.

“In another few years even the easy care grounds here will be more than we have time for,” Francie explains.

“We feel we are at the stage where we have one more good adventure left in us but we won't be building another Stone Aerie. There will never be another Stone Aerie!”

To view the property see www.marlboroughrealestate.co.nz/1612853

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