With its themed spaces and incredible attention to detail, this towering Tai Tapu residence takes the phrase “my house, my castle” to a whole new level. This is no ordinary Christchurch home.

Spread over three levels and 1020sqm, you’ll find four living areas (“great hall”, lounge, dining and rumpus), kitchen, minstrel’s gallery, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two toilets, office, garden shed and 14-car garaging. Tapestries, an imitation dungeon (with prisoner sculpture!), embattlements and a turret complete the castle effect. It’s enough to make a damsel swoon. The vision for an autonomous home has been achieved using existing and emerging technology that relies very little on outside infrastructure. Modern luxuries have not been sacrificed, and the house generates so much energy, the owners sell the excess to their power authority. There’s also 123,000 litres of water storage. Retirement plans have been taken into account with all main living areas located on the middle level. Upstairs, there’s provision for additional facilities to house helpers in the future.