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NZ's First Ever Straw Bale Home (SOLD)
listed by Ecobob.co.nz


Straw bale house in Nelson

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This property has the following features:

Mains electric water heating
Straw bale
Wetback water heating

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New Zealand > Nelson/Tasman

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Property Details

Bedrooms:   4
Bathrooms:   2
 
 

Description

*** SOLD ***

This spectacular home, with its superb proportions and thick, mellow Tuscan gold plaster walls, has been built to a generous scale. Located in a tranquil country setting, within a 10 minute drive of the city, it is perfectly positioned for all-day sun and unobstructed sea and mountain views.

Set on 3 hectares of lush lawn, low maintenance gardens, pasture and woodlots of mature trees, the sheltered, north-facing home fits well into the natural environment. The outlook is breathtaking, as it sweeps across lawn and tree-studded pasture to the wide expanse of Tasman Bay and the Western ranges, extending to Separation Point and the sea beyond.

Architect designed by Ian Jack, construction of the substantial, 300 square metre, split-level home commenced in October, 1996 and was completed to a liveable standard within 12 months. Work continued on the property during the ensuing years, with a high standard of workmanship evident in the building's finish and detail, resulting in a home which combines strong design elements with natural materials and lifestyle requirements.

It comprises a huge, open-plan living room and dining area, a kitchen with a bar and breakfast bar, four double bedrooms, a spacious mezzanine floor, two bathrooms, a separate toilet, laundry, a wine cellar and a remote controlled, double garage. The stunning kitchen and bathrooms are all brand new.

This was the first straw bale house in New Zealand and is an excellent example of the genre, with its 700mm thick walls, deep sills, arched recesses and moulded seating. There is a sense of permanence in the building's solid structure and sheltering walls. Exterior construction combines thick, adobe-finished concrete plaster walls and warm-toned, Lawson cypress upper walls with deep aqua aluminium joinery and a karaka Coloursteel roof. Three separate covered verandahs, with hardwood timber decks, extend around the house.

This is a large, light and airy home, designed to make the most of Nelson's wonderful climate and outdoor lifestyle. Two sets of double glass doors, in the open-plan living room combine with double glass doors in the kitchen, master bedroom and third bedroom to access verandahs and outdoor dining areas, creating a spacious environment for indoor/outdoor living and entertaining.

Thick, insulated walls ensure the house remains warm in Winter and cool in Summer. A raised, Jetmaster open fire, in the spacious, open-plan living room combines with a new Raeburn wood burning cooker, with a wet-back facility, to provide additional warmth, as well as water heating. The house is wired for Sky TV. There are feature lights, ceiling lights and plenty of power points and telephone connections. All wardrobes are fitted with Madison Wardrobe Organiser clothes rails and shelves.

Vaulted and sloped, recycled rimu ceilings, with exposed beams combine with lime-washed, Moutere Clay interior walls and numerous glass doors and windows to create a sense of openness and space. Internal doors are constructed of black poplar. New misty grey carpet is fitted in the open-plan living and dining areas, bedrooms, the linen room, hallway and stairs. There are soft, sand-toned ceramic floor tiles in the entrance hall, kitchen, bathrooms, separate toilet and laundry.

*** SOLD ***

 

 

Your comments:

by Anonymous 15 Mar 10, 1 replies : Last Post Sort by:
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3839 posts
First strawbale house in 1996? 
Posted 15 Mar 10 8:52 PM
Was this really NZ's first strawbale house? I would have thought there were some built before 1996?


13 posts
Re: First strawbale house in 1996? 
Posted 22 Mar 10 7:22 PM
The date built for this SB home would be the day the building consent was signed off by the Council's that issued the consent, not the year started. This may be the first SB home in Nelson, but there are SB homes at least 15 years in Christchurch & Central Otago
 

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