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
