| 91 BUILDING Build This T T Lindy Andrews All problems solved on challenging build The upper levels of the spectacular Young & Richards-designed, five-bedroom cedar and steel home capture sea views to Rangitoto Island. For Sam Patience of Build This, 434 Riddell Road Glendowie with its sloping corner site, geotechnical challenges and landmark angular design remains unforgettable. “It was absolutely a highlight of my career – and despite the challenges, a lot of fun,” Sam says. “It was a super-technical build, with the section on a sweeping corner and sloping away below the road.” Sam quickly developed a rapport and a reputation for nimble problem-solving with owners Renee Jacobsen and Barry Woolcott. “Sam was fantastic, and was building as well, so he was my main point of contact,” Renee says. “He was great to deal with, and he’s just a really nice genuine person. It was an unusual site and quite challenging to maximise, as well as doing the retaining and the earthworks. “Sam was always really calm about the problems and always had a solution. One of the things I appreciated the most was their care for the project and attention to detail. Even in the crunch time they were working really hard, and were really accommodating and really professional.” The challenges were presented from the outset – including previously undetected soft soils. Sam, who also project managed the build, worked extensively with geotechnical engineers to develop a methodology to shore up the building platform. The upper levels of the spectacular Young & Richards-designed, five-bedroom cedar and steel home capture sea views to Rangitoto Island. The bedrooms, with their enviable sea views, occupy the upper levels, while the lower levels offer very private living spaces – a serene sanctuary, wrapped around the swimming pool and spa. At the home’s heart is a designer kitchen that opens up through floor-to-ceiling sliders in an effortless transition to outdoor living. With its stained oak cabinetry, integrated Miele and Leibherr appliances, butler’s pantry and custom dining table with booth seating, it’s an entertainer’s dream. The home’s levels are layered across each other, requiring extensive structural steel work. Full-height joinery to capture the expansive views was also critical. The quick-thinking Sam soon realised that the method used to fit the joinery into its steel framework could be improved. Furthermore, revisiting the methodology offered a way to recoup the time lost with ground improvements. Working closely with steel engineers and the architects, he redesigned the way the steel was put together to achieve the beautifully detailed ceiling height joinery his clients deserved. The roof’s geometrics also called for incredible attention to detail, as well as an unconventional building approach. Meticulous truss design and construction – along with internal spouting – concealed the Colorsteel roof and achieved a flawless outcome. “We worked within very small minimum and maximum tolerances,” Sam says. “Every level was on a different angle to the next and there were some pretty serious cantilevers.” All in all, Sam says, the home was the build of a lifetime – built on great client relationships, a lot of trust and sheer dedication to task. “We take the approach to every project Build This does, from new builds to complete makeovers and basic additions.” COUNTIES ALUMINIUM WINDOWS & DOORS WINDOWS & DOORS Proudly supporting Build This Ltd 09 298 2995 | info@countiesaluminium.co.nz www.countiesaluminium.co.nz Modern spray plastering & traditional hand applications Cement & acrylic base plaster systems Weathertight exterior paint systems 0211919810 www.straightlineplastering.co.nz
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