The Thorne Group show home is now open at 59 Te Ranga Memorial Drive at The Lakes. The showhome is positioned on a 528sqm site and showcases how clever design applied to a smaller site can create a spacious and light-filled home that meets a 6 star Homestar environmental rating. The home of course also showcases the exceptional craftsmanship the Thorne Group are renowned for.

With a footprint of just over 220.0m2, this is not a large home, however, there is still a sense of spaciousness. The living spaces extend seamlessly through over light glazing to the covered outdoor area. The kitchen and dining area can be closed off by a large steel-framed glass door with reeded glass. The ‘raw’ feel of the steel door is juxtaposed against the soft, warm feel of interior cedar linings that flow through to the exterior. The large size of the opening and the glass ensures there is always the ‘open-plan; feeling whilst also increasing the flexibility of spaces when required.

​Behind the kitchen is a large walk-in pantry, adjacent to this is the study area. This maximises the efficient use of space. This area opens to another outdoor deck area to extend the dining space. A feature cedar slat eyebrow roof extends over the deck creating shade and filtered light.

​The interiors have a combination of natural materials which blend with its organic feel. They combine sophisticated features such as Gold Calacata marble backsplash in the kitchen, natural stone, large internal floor to ceiling steel and reeded glass door, with a warm texture of NZ wool, linen and cedar timber spine wall that creates the interior connection between the living and dining. The result is an interior that still feels really homely and sophisticated, while still being quite bold in its form, the exterior is neutral and soft whilst the interior is slightly more serious.

Added to this is the homes ‘eco features’. The home has been designed to gain accreditation as a 6 Star Homestar rated home. The design is optimised for passive solar energy, for the local climate and site conditions to maximise the home owner’s comfort. Alongside the design itself, all the fixtures, fittings and materials have been meticulously thought out and calculated to ensure they comply with Homestar guidelines.

Awards

• BOP/Waikato ADNZ Architectural Interior Design Winner 2019
• ADNZ Architectural Interior Designer National Finalist (top 4 in NZ)
• Master Build House of the Year Gold Award
• Master Build House of the Year Gold Reserve Finalist (top 100 in NZ)