Standalone House – Contemporary

Luxury life on the canal at Marsden Cove

1 July, 2019 by

Watching the sun rise over the canal, early birds Craig and Sue Roulston are delighted with their new retirement sanctuary at Marsden Cove. With a private jetty on calm waters leading to the Whangarei Harbour, it is simply the perfect setting for their brand-new home.

The north-east facing, two-storey property’s deluxe features required superb teamwork and seamless communication to ensure a successful end result.

“There was an incredible amount of steel and glass and a lot of work in the build,” says Craig Cogan of Craig Cogan Builders, who has constructed seven other properties in the Northland development. “Cantilevered decks off the front, plus louvre screens off the decks, down the side, and over the entrance, required a lot of thought and careful construction to bring it all together.”

Keeping to a ‘luxurious and low-maintenance’ brief, the homeowners, Craig and Sue, went with Trespa^® Meteon^® for the exterior, a high impact cladding seldom used in New Zealand residential builds. With panels cured using an Electron Beam Curing (EBC) technology, they are resistant to weather and light and give a strong, highly stable but decorative panel.

The Marley Stratus Design Series^® Stormcloud^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes in black blend in so well, they can hardly be seen! But they are still the perfect products to use with the house being so close to a salt water way. With a 15 year guarantee Craig and Sue have peace of mind – it will definitely not rust!

Craig and Sue agree that an abundance of insulation, double glazing, and the layout of the interior, all helped to create a superbly sustainable home.

“In winter, the atrium over the dining area allows the heat from downstairs to flow upward and warm the whole house. In summer we open up the whole front of the house – all the ranch sliders – and barbecue out there. It is glorious.”

Thanks to Craig Cogan Builders and NZ Certified Builders for this content.

Kinloch House Fulfils its Potential (and then some)

17 May, 2019 by

Believe it or not, but the magnificent site that Kinloch House is built upon was literally a hole in the ground. The site was used as a catchment area to prevent sediment washing down into the town below while the surrounding subdivision was being developed.

Fortunately, Malcolm Taylor of Xsite Architects could see the huge potential that the site offered; stunning views of Lake Taupo in the distance and the beautifully landscaped Kinloch Golf Course in the foreground, with the added advantage of never being able to be built out.

So once the hole was filled the building rapidly took shape. The architects used Metalcraft’s prefabricated insulation panels which are extremely easy and quick to erect on site in one piece. The roof was installed in just two days! These Expanded Polystyrene Sandwich (EPS) panels are often used in large warehouse buildings to provide cool storage for fresh produce and the like but rarely are they used in residential housing.

The EPS panels provided quite spectacular levels of insulation, the walls have twice the insulation value found in most new builds, and the roof has three times the R value of a standard roof. All of which means the Kinloch House stays incredibly cosy and comfortable all year round.

Low cost build, high quality fitout

This Kinloch home doesn’t look anything like a budget conscious build. But by using prefabricated panels normally featured in industrial buildings, savings in construction time and money were achieved.

The industrial feel was softened in the interior by using prefinished plywood on the walls, a neutral colour palette and elegant polished concrete floors.

However, the industrial look of the exterior cladding is accentuated by the choice of Marley Magnum^® Commercial spouting and downpipes. The large round profile and generous 110mm round downpipes can cope with whatever weather comes its way. And the external brackets, as well as looking the part, make for easy removal of any leaf debris that may collect.

The innovative use of industrial products on this Kinloch home could provide a very attractive solution to New Zealand’s high building costs. In the meantime it has delivered a luxurious and extremely comfortable home to its very happy owners at a very cost effective price.

Photo credits to Archipro

Matakana Barn and Marley Magnum

17 May, 2019 by

Just one hour from Auckland and you’re in a different time zone. High on a hillside, nestled among native trees and acres of green fields you’re far removed from the long lines of city day trippers making their way to Matakana.

Peace and quiet reign in this piece of rural paradise on which the Matakana Barn, by SGA architects, takes pride of place. The barn references are evident on the exterior with corrugated iron roofing and cladding, and the carefully spaced rough sawn Totara vertical planks.

Marley Magnum^® commercial spouting and downpipes powerfully frame the utilitarian design and create an eye pleasing separation between iron and timber.

Room with a view

A very clever outdoor room makes the most of the northerly aspect and the spectacular views of the distant hills. Translucent sheeting and Totara ceiling battens let in a beautiful soft light and large, pivoting doors either let you enjoy the full 180 degree view, or shelter you from the prevailing westerlies.

Indoor/outdoor flow

The Matakana Barn takes the much desired indoor/outdoor flow to a new level. You can effortlessly step from the main living area into the outdoor room, a sliding door is all that separates the master bedroom from the lawn, and the ensuite shower almost lets you to bare all to the outdoors.

A wide opening window in the shower cubicle creates the feeling of showering in the great outdoors.

It keeps getting better with age

While the interior of the Matakana Barn is all warm, natural Totara and honey coloured plywood, the exterior timber has weathered and continues to silver and soften with age. The initial investment in polished concrete flooring for thermal mass and solar panels for water heating is already paying dividends and the choice of commercial grade Marley Magnum^® spouting has proved itself time and time again. The large round profile and generous 110mm round downpipes are more than capable of coping with the water flow from the long run roofing.

The Matakana Barn may have elements of rural design in its makeup but the finished product is every inch a sophisticated and elegant family home. It just so happens it’s in the middle of the countryside.

Photo credits to Jackie Meiring

House of the Year – Whitianga

17 May, 2019 by

When Kirstin and Matt Castle were designing their new home in Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula, they concentrated on what was best for themselves and their two young sons. Pleasing the judges in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition was the last thing on their mind. But please them they did! They won the gold award in the Placemakers New Home $450,000 – $550,000 category.

We were quite chuffed to win actually. It’s really nice to know that others also appreciate what we have done. And it’s a big tick for our company’s design studio – said a delighted Kirstin.

The ideal location, location, location

The Castle’s new house sits on a large, sunny, flat 4,035m site in Whitianga township. The beaches, marina, shops and restaurants are all within very easy reach. The site was completely bare when they purchased it in 2016 and HAMR homes took just six months to complete the project.

We’ve heard the horror stories of new builds. But HAMR took care of everything for us. It really was stress free and we totally enjoyed being part of the process.

Designed for easy living

This is a home that ticks all the boxes on a homeowner’s wish list. It’s got open plan living, indoor outdoor flow, a generous veranda, large decks, easy care native garden, loads of storage, bunkbeds for the holiday guest overflow, and even a games room.

As Kirstin said, We wanted this to be a home that had some of the elements of the traditional Kiwi bach and all the comforts of a modern home.

It ‘s a home you can open out in summer, or close in for winter. Clever use of Velux skylights and ventilating louvres lets you regulate the airflow, so you can avoid those sticky and hot sleepless nights in summer. In winter, the double glazing, fully insulated walls and ceilings, solar capturing concrete floors and super efficient wood burner all make for a very cosy and comfortable home.

It’s easy maintenance too. The exterior cladding is bevel-back cedar weatherboards coated with Resene Woodsman Tiri Stain. The roof is corrugated iron with Flaxpod powder coating and the Marley Stratus Design Series^® Typhoon^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes are all hardwearing uPVC which won’t rust, so is perfect for the coastal location.

We got lucky with the spouting. Marley released their Stratus Design Series^® in black midway through the build so we had time to change to it. It’s the perfect match for our colour scheme.

There is no doubt that dark exteriors are very popular right now, however we love the way the Castles have gone for white (Resene Half Merino) soffit and posts to offset the moody cladding and black Marley spouting and downpipes. Looks so good!

The half round Typhoon^® spouting profile frames the house with a modern look, and the external brackets give some added detail, while also making it easier to clean the spouting out.

A new twist on the indoor/outdoor flow

Nothing quite says ‘beach house’ like an outdoor shower. It also means no more sandy togs in the bathroom, or sand on the floor. And nothing says indulgence like having a bath under the stars. The reconditioned bath is one of the most popular features of the home – it gets good use all year round from all members of the family.

Designed and made in Whitianga

The Castle home is very much a local product. Kirsten has her own architectural business, Studio 77 Ltd, which is based in Whitianga. The kitchen and bathroom cabinetry were supplied by Dimax, another local firm, and the Castles didn’t have to look very far to find their builders as HAMR Home are just down the road.

It’s great to be able to use local contractors and suppliers. You can’t beat the personal service and not one local tradie let us down. They were all great.

But wait, there’s more!

The most surprisingly thing about the Castle’s new home is the fact that it’s not really their home in the long term. It’s just stage one. In time, as the family grows a new house will be built on site and the house you see now will become the guest house/boat shed. So, watch this space for House of the Year 2020!

Natural Elements in New Plymouth

17 May, 2019 by

Paul Russell’s New Plymouth home is a modern space, one that ties in with the surrounding nature seamlessly. The single-storey home pays homage to its surroundings, using plenty of glass, greenery, natural wood and polished concrete to create a sleek and modern oasis.

Paul found the empty site in July 2015, and was attracted to the area because of its close proximity to the ocean. The build took only eight months from start to finish – and was designed, managed and built by Paul himself – an impressive feat that only adds to the essence of this family home.

Bringing the outside in

Native plants have been used to withstand the harsh winds famously known in the region and Paul has really made a feature of them. Opting for a see through glass feature above the stove and bench instead of a splashback, the view is both inspiring and relaxing. The stunning feature garden in the living and dining area is Bauhaus-esque in its design. High glass sliding doors and parallel cladding frame the tropical and native plants, cleverly allowing an influx of natural light into the space, while adding to the modern open plan feel of the home.

Earth first

Choosing supplies and materials for the build was easy for Paul, because of his love for “natural, earthy products”. The exterior is parallel cedar cladding stained in Elm which adds length and depth to the home. This is simply framed by fascia painted Resene Ebony, black window frames and an Ebony ColourSteel^® roof to really make the cladding pop. The Marley Stratus Design Series^® Typhoon^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes in Copper complement the cedar, and the half round Typhoon^® profile with external brackets adds a reflective feature to the outside of the home. This creates a positive balance between earthiness and modern and “(it) gives a lot more interest to the eaves as they generally look bland.”

Another huge benefit for Paul of the Marley Stratus Design Series^® Typhoon^® spouting and RP80^® downpipes was their durability against the area’s rough winds and salty sea air. Being made from uPVC means that they can withstand the elements, hold their colour for longer, and most importantly – they won’t rust. This was paramount for the new build and its future as a family home.

Clever gadgets

Paul has included some modern and useful extras such as the central vac system from Rob Rhason, central gas radiators from Paul Garner, central air conditioning from Heatcool Taranaki, plus a cosy Escea gas fire – perfect for staying warm in the winter months.

The Russell family home seamlessly balances the natural, the modern and the homely. From Paul’s loving involvement through the whole process, to the large shared spaces, we can tell that this home will have many memories made in it.

Sentinel Homes, Millwater

17 May, 2019 by

Spouting: Typhoon^® half-round
Colour: Titanium
Bracket Type: Internal
Downpipe: RP80^® 80mm Round Downpipe
Location: 2 Colonial Drive, Millwater