TAUPO HOUSE

Our clients had lived in an existing house on the site for several years before they approached us to design a new house. The house had to fit into the existing neighbourhood and the established garden. And importantly the brief from the clients had a very strong emphasis on environmental sustainability.

The design of the house incorporates:

• room layout to maximise sun in the winter.
• large eaves to control summer sun
• high levels of insulation.
• high level windows for natural ventilation.
• solar hot water panels
• the use of natural materials and finishes

The clients are also developing a separate grey and black waste water system, collecting rainwater and have included an underfloor hot water heating system heated by a combination of solar panels, wet back from the wood burner and electrical back up.

Design: David Wallace, Nick Reeve

Builders: Mark Haimes - Haimes Building Ltd.