'Uenuku'    (= rainbow in Maori)

Eco Lifestyle Self Sustainable Retreat, Offering Comfort, Space, Tranquillity, Privacy, Stream, Native bush, Tararua Forest Park, Large Open plan, 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Large Indoor Garage/Workshop

Self-Sufficient, Self-Sustainable, built Environmentally Responsible using Natural, Recycled or Renewable materials where possible, Built to Highest standards

  Steven, trained as an Industrial Design Engineer took every measure to combine Beauty with Quality. He applied modern concepts like passive solar heating and under floor heating. That combined with double glazing, extra layers of insulation created a super warm and dry home for winter. 

  We styled it 'Functional', 'Minimalistic' and a little North European, with lots of natural light, large windows, polished concrete floors and large open spaces. By using white washed natural wood for shelving, wardrobe and cupboards we created a cosy feel. Beams in the ceiling, romantic modern light fittings and a neutral colour scheme add to the atmosphere.

  Construction and features

Dwelling is based on a pole construction that is framed out using 6 x 2s to be able to fit in more insulation, using Greenstuff, made from recycled polyester bottles.

Outside Cladding  on South side of the house is corrugated iron (low maintenance).

North side is 30 mm thick clear 3.2 H treated Radiata Pine weather boards , oiled 3 times with Intergrain professional grade outside timber oil.

All around behind the outside cladding, the house has been lined with 15 mm H3.1 treated plywood for extra protection and bracing. Roof is insulated with extra thick Wool (Ecofleece) bats, R4.4.

Internal walls and ceilings are lined with 13 mm gib board (instead of 10 mm standard).

Roof –long run roofing that is 0.55 BMT (instead of 0.4 standard) fastened with text screws.

Joinery has been made in extra strong Metro series, all double glazed. Large sliders at front measure 3.6 m wide by 2.5 m high !

Concrete floor, foundation is insulated with polystyrene and has under floor heating.

Floor has been polished to expose the beauty of Wairarapa river pebbles and sealed with a professional solvent based acrylic sealer.

2000 W Solar Energy System with a 30 kWh battery bank, which effectively means enough power to run normal household appliances, power tools, a fridge, a large deep freezer and washing machine.

Wagner stove, which is a gem to cook on, or roast a leg of lamb in the oven. It has a large wetback that heats up a large 300 litre hot water cylinder. If the water in the cylinder gets over 65 degrees there is an option of using the excess water to warm up the floors using the under floor heating system.

Kitchen has been hand made. A double sink and gas hob for summer cooking sit in the concrete bench top.

The bathroom and kitchen are fitted with Felton tap ware.

Water supply from Spring on hill, gets filtered through sand and stored in a 1000 litre tank, before being gravity fed to the house. High pressure shower !!!

4500 litre septic tank – 6 person household capacity

                                                      Outbuildings/Outside

Battery bank and inverter live in a small shed under/behind the solar panels

2 sheds have been built for firewood storage

6 raised beds provide space to grow a range of vegetables

Chook house in an area with a small stream and native bush, fenced off to free range chooks

Well fenced paddock, over an acre, with Solar powered hotwire on 2 sides, easy to strip-fence off certain areas. Some trees in paddock for shade.