When the builder behind this stunning new house from Discovery Homes found a beautiful north-facing section in Blenheim, he and his wife soon transformed it from a sheep paddock into a patch of native paradise. The architecturally designed home is built on a RibRaft foundation and consists of three mono-pitched pods with 3.6m-high raked ceilings joined by lower atriums. The main bedroom is located at one end, the living hub (kitchen, lounge and dining, resplendent with large Italian floor tiles) is in the middle, and the remaining three bedrooms, main bathroom, laundry and guest room with ensuite are in the last section. There’s even a library built behind bespoke glass and steel walls.
An exemplar of smart-home living, the house boasts a PolarEnergi system, eight thermostats for room-by-room temperature control, solar panels on the roof to supply power to the heat pump that heats the water and thicker than standard timber (140mm) for better insulation. A double fire straddling the dining and living rooms adds rustic ambience. The exterior is just as impressive. It’s clad in recycled Australian hardwood made from recycled bridge beams, which pairs beautifully with the ebony-black roof and window and door frames. Striking copper spouting, downlights, tapware and bottle traps complete the magic.
NATIONAL AWARDS WON
Top 100
REGIONAL AWARDS WON
Regional Gold