Pieter De Zeeuw and Martine le Coultre are building their dream home on Waiheke Island. Designed by the award-winning Bossley Architects and constructed by the following contractors:

• Main structure by Christchurch based Ecopanel (Dan Saunders)
• Site development and infrastructure by Waiheke based Gulf Island Solutions (Peter Dawson)
• Finishing carpentry and cladding by Waiheke based Somerville Builders (Steve Somerville)

The home is made up of five separate buildings that meet their various requirements.

• The main house
• A yoga/activity studio
• Two guest units
• A garage with a wood store
• A separate unit for family and friends

Construction was made simple through the use of the modular Eco Panel system. Ecopanel is a Christchurch based company that manufacture Structural Insulated Wall Systems that provide the structural framing, insulation, and exterior weather tightness requirements of the dwelling in a one-piece panelised wall. It is a high-performance building system replacing traditional stick framing, and ensures the framing is kept dry and erected quicker. Each panel is constructed offsite and consists of :

• Structural lining (Shadowclad Ply)
• Timber framing as per NZS3604
• Exterior weather tightness membrane (SOLITEX EXTASANA)
• KNAUF Insulation (R2.8 in the walls and a R2.9 in the roof)

An additional layer of pro clima INTELLO PLUS was installed in the main house by Enveloped, to offer airtightness and internal vapour control. Having a dedicated airtightness layer reduces energy loss through the thermal envelope, so the home requires far less energy to heat or cool. The pro clima INTELLO PLUS layer also protects the structure and insulation layer from moisture ingress to keep it free from mould, corrosion and rot damage.

Ventilation has been designed using a Schweigen continuous ventilation fan and supply vent. This pulls air in fresh air through a vent in the ensuite upstairs and extracts stale damp air from the downstairs bathroom, ensuring the indoor environment is always healthy and comfortable to live in.

CLT (Cross-laminated Timber) from XLam was used to form the roof panels of the main house, and have been left exposed to showcase the beauty and warmth of natural timber. The majority of the exteriors were clad in Larch vertical shiplap weatherboard from Rosenfeld Kidson, which will age naturally and provide contrast to the brightly coloured feature cladding areas.

The buildings are all tied together by a large deck which is covered by a custom-designed and constructed by Structurflex Ltd (Harry Kleyn) canopy with a membrane roof (like a sail) which will be great for relaxing and entertaining in true 'Island' style for years to come.