THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Having a seamless flow to the outdoors was high on the list of priorities for the Kirks. The wraparound deck design creates a variety of outdoor living zones, from a sun-soaked lounging area overlooking the lake at the front of the house, to a covered dining area alongside the kitchen. There’s even a private space to enjoy stargazing in an outdoor bathtub. And for those end-of-day drinks, a concrete outdoor fireplace is backdropped by rolling green hills and lush countryside. While the fire looks quite at home, taking pride of place on the north side of the deck, it presented a few logistical challenges during the build. “We ended up having the fireplace lifted onto the site by an Iroquois helicopter, which isn’t a regular occurrence on a building site!” says Wayne.

And it wasn’t the only challenge the Landmark Homes team managed. “We discovered a very big boulder in the ground where the garage was going to be built. If we removed it the whole bank would fall away, so we had to change the foundation design which was a huge scope of work. It’s just one of those things that you can’t always predict and just have to manage. That’s where the skill and experience of a team like ours really counts. We knew what had to be done and got it sorted.”

A CHANGE OF PLANS

While Wayne and Anna couldn’t be happier with the finished product, it wasn’t what they planned for at the start. “Initially my idea was for a very different home over two levels. When I talked it through with the Landmark Homes team it quickly became obvious it wasn’t going to work on the site we wanted,” he says.

Steven explains, “Because the site is shaped like a wedge, we had to think quite creatively. We went through a very productive process with the Kirks of working with the designer, bouncing ideas off each other, and evolving the plans from something quite ordinary and unworkable, to something that is modern, sleek, and that fits beautifully with the site.

The shape of the home is unique with curves and angles that add distinction as well as offering the functionality that was important to the Kirks.”

Wayne says the final plans were not something he would have ever thought of. “We’re thrilled with the result – the home suits our lifestyle perfectly.”

WORKING WITH LANDMARK HOMES

Wayne and Anna both agree that working with Landmark Homes Taupō and Rotorua on their dream holiday home has been a positive and rewarding experience. “I can’t speak highly enough of the Landmark Homes team,” says Wayne. “The team are all very experienced, professional, and passionate about delivering exceptional results.

“They helped us take a concept that was quite generic and average and turn into something that was unique and personalised. They tapped into what we were really looking for and made that happen.”