Property developer Mark Hatwell has successfully combined two adjacent apartments in Mount Maunganui's iconic Twin Towers to create a spectacular space-age residence overlooking the Bay of Plenty coastline. The ambitious project, located at 8A/8B/1 Marine Parade, represents the first such conversion in his building, though similar combinations have been completed in the neighboring tower.

Hatwell's journey to create this unique property began when he purchased the first apartment at auction, then waited to secure the adjacent unit. "We bought one at one auction, then we had to wait around and book the other one," Hatwell explained. "By the time the whole lot got joined up, it was probably six or nine months. It gave me plenty of time to map out how I was going to do it."

The resulting transformation created a massive 286 square meter footprint - equivalent to a standalone house - featuring three double bedrooms, two ensuites, a family bathroom, and a dedicated full-size laundry room. The open-plan living, dining, kitchen, and balcony area now rivals luxury properties found in Miami or Sydney's premium waterfront locations.

Despite some design constraints, including immovable major piping in the building's center that dictated bathroom and kitchen placement, Hatwell says these restrictions actually worked in their favor. The renovation involved removing large plastic spa baths from the 1980s, which opened up the bathrooms for modern walk-in showers. "When was the last time you took a bath? You don't have them these days. You'd be forever running out of water if you did," Hatwell noted.

The combined apartment now boasts two balconies, with the northerly one offering exceptional views of Mount Maunganui itself. Hatwell and his wife Glenda particularly enjoy watching the evening spectacle of hikers' phone flashlights bobbing along the mountain trails. "You'll be sitting there at night time and you see the lights of people walking up and down the mountain in the dark with their phones out. It's quite funny," he said.

The southern balcony provides front-row seats to the town's famous New Year's Eve celebrations, a traditional rite of passage for many young New Zealanders. "We watch them all get carted away in the back of the police wagon," Hatwell joked. "It's rain, hail or shine. Last Christmas, it was quite wet, and it didn't stop all the youngies, and I can't blame them, because we were like that at that age. Rain doesn't stop a good time."

The Twin Towers building, constructed in the 1980s, has become a landmark on Marine Parade and an icon of Mount Maunganui. "It's iconic, isn't it? Every time you see something to do with The Mount, you always see those two buildings," Hatwell observed. For him, apartment living offers unmatched convenience - "There's no lawn to mow" - allowing the couple to come and go as they please.

Despite their satisfaction with the project, the Hatwells have decided to sell the property to spend more time in Auckland, where they maintain another apartment to be closer to family. The home, with a capital value of $1,100,000, is unlikely to attract younger buyers even in the current buyer's market. Last week, Corelogic NZ chief property economist Kelvin Davidson reported that while the national property market remains subdued with values falling 0.2% in July, Tauranga experienced the biggest increase at 0.9%.

The property could appeal to various buyers, including downsizers seeking a relaxed lifestyle, wealthy Aucklanders looking for a second home that's more sophisticated than typical holiday destinations, or investors interested in high-end rental opportunities. While the Hatwells have been frequently asked about using the property as an Airbnb, Hatwell says that approach doesn't suit them.

The unique apartment at 8A/8B/1 Marine Parade is being sold by tender, with the closing date set for August 28. The listing is handled by Peter Clarke from Bayleys real estate. As Hatwell notes, buyers can expect "exceptional sunrises on this coast," adding to the property's considerable appeal as a luxury coastal residence.