70 | Darren McCutchan Architecture & Stewart Rose Builders ARCHITECTURE Off-grid farm home a stunner The pavilion style homestead is a 385sqm home featuring three gable-roofed wings and a dedicated farm entrance. The home operates off the power grid, using solar panels and a backup generator. T T Bernadette Cooney A renowned Waikato architectural designer of nearly 40 years’ experience, Darren McCutchan, has designed a stunning off-grid, modern family homestead atop a hill on a working dairy farm at Whakamaru. Masterfully combining the practical needs of farm life with breathtaking rural vistas of distant mountains, the home is testament to McCutchan’s expertise – currently being brought to life by the skilled hands of Stewart Rose Builders of Te Awamutu. Darren McCutchan Architecture operates from Darren’s home office near Mangakino, not far from the Whakamuru dairy farm located between Sandel and McDonald Roads. “The homeowners are quintessential hard-working dairy farmers who put everything into the farm and business, so housing, especially housing for oneself, hadn’t been a high priority.” Initially, the plan involved extensive renovations to the existing family home. However, the decision was made to repurpose the old house for the farm manager and build a new home on an elevated site on farm. Darren’s first hand understanding of rural life maximises the sweeping views from the hilltop ridgeline out across farmland and mountain ranges. The pavilion style homestead is a 385 sq. metre home featuring three gable-roofed wings and a dedicated farm entrance. This design allows occupants to transition from muddy work gear in a mudroom before entering the main living spaces. “It has what I call a farm entrance and a house entrance,” Darren says. One wing includes internal garaging and storage, leading to four bedrooms, a bathroom, and a laundry room. The central gable houses the master bedroom and ensuite, a media room and a lounge. The third wing encompasses the main entrance and office space, kitchen, dining and living area with extended gables to the north providing covered alfresco living and dining spaces. Flat roof extensions connect the gabled wings, adding 66sqm of covered area, including a spa pool area directly off the master bedroom. Committed to low maintenance, the home is clad in durable aluminium weatherboard and man-made stone, topped with long-run roofing. The design considerations of balance, shape, and proportion ensure the home is a striking feature in the landscape, with the extended gabled wing walls creating distinctive visual elements from the road. Given its rural location, the home operates off the power grid, using solar panels and a backup generator housed atop and inside a dedicated utilities shed. A septic tank system manages wastewater, while rainwater is collected and filtered through three retention tanks and a pump system. This Sandel Road farmhouse marks an innovative inaugural collaboration between Stewart Rose Builders and Darren McCutchan. Darren, who launched his own architectural design business in 1988, has a wealth of experience in both residential and commercial projects. Working from his Waikato lifestyle block, he continues to design nationwide, bringing his unique blend of creativity and practicality to every project. With this Waikato farmhouse, Darren McCutchan Architecture and Stewart Rose Builders have not only created a functional home for a hardworking dairy family but also set a new standard for modern rural living, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation. 027 271 6161 srbuilders@xtra.co.nz 202 Picquet Hill Rd, Te Awamutu With over 20 years industry experience, we pride ourselves on our business values of honesty, hard work and trustworthiness. Proudly working with DarrenMcCutchan Architecture • Pre- oor, pre-line and front of wall plumbing for new builds • 5T Excavator available for septic tank and drainage needs • Replacement of e uent beds • Jetter available for blocked cowshed or house drains • Stormwater solutions • Farm house renovations, maintenance & repairs • On call 24/7 for our rural community Scafpro are proud to support Darren McCutchan Architecture & Stewart Rose Builders
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