Off the Grid - Featherston
By Maridale Construction Ltd
Nestled high in the hills of rural South Wairarapa, sits this spectacular Off the Grid home.
Completely powered by solar energy, this home is the future of sustainable building. Solar panels sit at the highest point of the property to capture the maximum sun, which is then transferred as energy to the solar storage battery shed next to the house. The batteries store the energy until it is ready to be used.
With the automation and offgrid nature of the building, it is like interacting with a living creature. The thermal performance of the building is remarkable and can usually maintain 20'+ temperatures without any heating source. The walls and roof are constructed from SIPS panels for their thermal performance, exceeding the NZ Building code for R-Values. The airflow from the window and skylights were all calculated to enable fast cooling of the building and basic automation has also been implemented to auto regulate the interior temperature.
The 500kg Homewood wood fired oven was also selected to cook feasts, warm the house and heat the hot water on cloudy days when Ray was not visiting the solar panels. Rainwater is fed off the roof into a lower holding tank and on sunny days the solar pumps it up to a 30,000L header tank before being gravity fed back down to the house.
The wastewater system is a Biorock non-electric treatment system specifically for Off the Grid builds.
Rectangles are more cost effective to build which enabled the budget to be pushed towards more upmarket finishings such as the recycled heart rimu floors and birch ply cabinetry. The interior colours were matched with the pine trees and emulated bringing the environment inside or pushing the house outside (depending on your perspective). The colour flaxpod was selected for the exterior as it was subtle with the surroundings and durable in coloursteel. The home has a 75m2 footprint which is comfortable for everyday living on the ground floor with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open plan living. The two lofts provide an office, a library and two additional bedrooms that have full standing height for when it transforms into a party pad.
Due to the remoteness of the building location, a helicopter was needed to drop materials to site.
"It is a jaw dropping residence which is a credit to Maridale Construction and Click Architects. The build posed many challenges relating to access, no electricity, extreme weather events and all the covid lockdowns and supply chain complications that created. My late wife Alex left this world part way through construction of our dream home; leaving those she touched with a warm hearted legacy- which this cozy living building epitomizes." - Phil, Homeowner
Architect: Click Architects
Solar: Hoskins Energy
Wastewater System: Diamond Civil
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Put your new home or renovation in the safe hands of Award-winning Upper Hutt-based Master Builders, Maridale Construction Ltd.
Maridale Construction Ltd was officially formed in 2001. However, founders Brian and Deborah Marriner have been creating dream homes for satisfied clients since 1987.
Today, Maridale Construction Ltd works with trusted architects and premium local suppliers to offer custom new architectural builds, as well as contemporary home renovations and extensions and sensitive villa renovations.
Each project begins with an on-site consultation to help us understand your vision and to assess the site. This ensures an accurate estimate and flags any potential issues early on in the process. Once the estimate is accepted, we can manage the entire build process, and bring in any necessary subcontractors.
We love nothing more than seeing the look on a client's face when they turn the key on their new home or renovation, and we take great satisfaction from seeing homes we've built across the Hutt still standing and looking great years later. View our project gallery to see what we can do and see why our clients think we are the best home builders in Wellington.
Ready to bring your dream home to life? Contact us today to get started. We work with clients across Wellington, Kapiti and South Wairarapa.
Why choose Maridale Construction Ltd?
Years of experience - Maridale Construction Ltd owner Brian has been in the industry for more than 30 years and several of our team have been with us for a long time - one more than 20 years. We're proud of the fact that we have a long-standing tight-knit team who value the same high standards.
Attention to detail - Maridale Construction Ltd takes the time to really give each client top-quality service. As Registered Master Builders and Licensed Building Practitioners our standards are always high and we pay attention to the finer details to ensure every part of your build meets those standards.
Old school craftsmanship - our attention to detail is backed by our dedication to proper craftsmanship, particularly when it comes to working on older villas. Our skills include things like laying or restoring timber floors and custom staircases.
A full service - Our talented team of carpenters and builders can do everything for your build except the plumbing and electrical work. We can even do your hard landscaping. And, to make it even easier, we can connect you with an architect and manage your build including sub-contractors.
Innovative building - We work with the latest materials to create sustainable homes and, as Lifemark Accredited builders and members of Future Proof Building, we work with clients to create innovative builds that really meet their needs now and in the future.
If you are looking for a company that understands you and your unique building or renovation needs, get in touch with Licensed Building Practitioners Maridale Construction Ltd today.
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