Earthship Te Tematanga

Photos by Peter May of The Flying KiwiHouzz at a GlanceWho lives here: Sarah Rowe and Gus Anning and their children Bryony, 14, Toby, 12, and Whio, 4Location: Hikuai, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand Size: 2,580 square feet (240 square meters) on 2½ acres (1 hectare); four bedrooms, three bathrooms and an atriumBuilding designer: Harriet Pilkington of Young + RichardsLike many people, Rowe and Anning knew the overarching principles of sustainable design: using the sun to warm the house, collecting their own water and utilizing recycled materials to lower the house’s embedded energy. It also helped that they were starting from an ideal place, as Rowe’s parents had given them land nestled in a valley on the eastern slopes of the Coromandel mountain range, with the perfect north-facing orientation and a gentle slope. The community, just over an hour from Auckland, is in an area known for its many alternative lifestyles. This worked in the couple’s favor, as many of the skilled craftspeople, helping hands and materials serendipitously came their way just when they needed them.

I like the natural scenery backdrop through the window, natural light beaming into the home, know the off grid systems a sustainable lifestyle cost affect in the long term investment plan I would definitely work toward for sure.