A dedicated sustainable living fan has created the ultimate back-to-nature home.
She says that it’s hard to believe now but the owner of this ultimate eco-friendly property at 968 Kaipara Flats Road in Kaipara Flats previously lived in a 100-year-old home, which needed endless maintenance.
It had always been her dream to build a sustainable dwelling and when she noticed an earth house in the neighbourhood she wanted to know more.
“I was a bit cheeky and went and asked the owner if I could talk to him about it and he was amazing and gave me lots of useful information,” she says.
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Warkworth is around 13 kilometres away from this property for supermarket shopping and other services. Photo / Supplied
“I engaged the same architect, Florian Primbs, who specialises in light earth building and together we came up with this three-bedroom home, which took master builder Richard Wilcock and his team around 18 months to construct.
“There were no skips because nothing was wasted, and all the untreated timber off-cuts were perfect for my wood stove. I was absolutely committed to leaving only the lightest possible footprint on the earth.”
The owner has found it a lovely home to live in.
“The earth breathes and it’s warm in winter and cool in summer,” she says.
The 2539sqm section is sheltered, has a stream, lots of trees and a treehouse. Photo / Supplied
She’s managed to keep utility bills to an absolute minimum with the wood stove, solar heated water – pumped into the house from a large underground tank – and a simple, old-style wastewater solution septic toilet system.
“The only expenses I’ve had with it were replacing the submersible pump and topping up the bark chips,” she says. “And any food waste I have gets composted or put in the worm bin.”
As a keen gardener, the owner has 13 different fruit varieties growing in her orchard, but she says she’s not quite as good at growing vegetables. The 2539sqm section is very sheltered and has a stream and lots of trees and a treehouse.
Neighbourhood boys and girls are always to welcome to play and explore there and she loves to hear them chatting and laughing.
There were no skips in the building of this home, all untreated timber off-cuts went to the wood stove. Photo / Supplied
“Everybody who lives around here is so nice and the children get to run around and have a real kiwi childhood,” she says.
Advancing age sees the owner moving south to be close to family and she says that she will miss every single aspect of her very special property, which also has a handy sleepout.
It’s peaceful and quiet yet close to Kaipara Flats Primary School and five minutes’ walk from the local sports club where residents regularly meet and socialise.
Warkworth is around 13 kilometres away for supermarket shopping and other services.
The homeowner is a keen gardener and has 13 different fruit varieties growing in her orchard. Photo / Supplied
Avalon Sanders of Bayleys, Mahurangi, agrees that it’s a very special property.
“You need to be inside it to really absorb the extent of the owner’s vision and the love and care that’s been brought to bear, and I also love the way she’s rewilded much of the land, giving it back to nature and restoring the eco-systems.
“The home enjoys complete privacy and serenity yet it’s still well-connected to the village.” Sanders is marketing the property with James Sanders.
968 Kaipara Flats Road in Kaipara Flats will be sold at auction on January 20.
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