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The Barnes Family Home is a contemporary interpretation of the classic New Zealand rural homestead — elegant, timeless and built to endure. An expansive wrap-around verandah, almost as large as the home itself, anchors the build to its coastal hinterland setting and creates a strong connection between indoors and out.
Homeowner Jason Barnes and his family were drawn to the site more than a decade ago for its sweeping views across Maraetai Beach and surrounding countryside. What began as two relocated 80-year-old houses gradually evolved into a complete rebuild. The final result honours the character of traditional homesteads while delivering the performance and comfort of a modern family home.
Prolam engineered timber plays a central role in the structure and the aesthetic of the verandah. Prolam Glulam PL8 Beams and PL8 H5 Posts were specified to provide the strength, stability and visual quality required for the exposed structural elements.
According to Jason, the choice of glulam offered clear buildability advantages: “The Prolam beams and posts provided a strong solution with a beautiful finish that gave us the look we wanted — with less time, cost and complexity”.
Engineered for strength, straightness and dimensional stability, and treated for lasting protection against moisture and insects, Prolam products maintain their structural integrity in exposed outdoor settings.
This straightness and stability proved particularly valuable on this build. Due to the construction schedule, the posts were installed well before the handrails. When it came time to install the rails in the final stages, builder Leo Brady was impressed. The posts had stayed true and not moved at all, and the handrails fitted seamlessly.
New Zealand’s only CodeMark H5 posts certified for in-ground use, Prolam posts were also a natural fit for the project. Installed up to 1.2 metres into the ground on the sloping site, without the need for complex footings, they not only delivered the clean architectural lines John was looking for, but a more efficient build.
The 30 verandah posts were painted by Jason himself, reflecting the personal investment in the home’s craft and detail. Combined with the inherent strength and longevity of Prolam glulam, the result is a home designed to be enjoyed now — and to stand strong for generations to come.
Specify Prolam Visual Grade Glulam Beams and Posts using the Prolam Specifier, the accurate and efficient online tool for designing structural timber elements with PS1 certificate for building code compliance.
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