90 | Harrold Building Ltd T T Russell Fredric Wide variety of work for Cromwell builder “I enjoy doing as much building work as I can, and it’s easier to control things the less people you have on site.” BUILDING 4 Rivers Tiny Homes Tailor-made tiny homes T T Ange Davidson Better known for its white-water recreation and trout fishing, the small town of Murchison in the Tasman District is home to an emerging construction industry that includes 4 Rivers Tiny Homes, a bespoke full-service Tiny Home Build offering a wide range of customisable services. Ryan Hewitt, co-director and builder says there’s a demand for tiny homes from all over the country as they are a versatile and economic solution to housing whether its for a bach, a home for a single parent, an Air BnB, or a couple downsizing and putting a tiny home on bare land. “There’s no real format as to who buys a tiny home and we can tailor-make a home to suit any specific needs and design. We have a range of sizes and floorplans on our website, and we work with our customers to deliver what they want,” says Ryan. Built from Structurally Insulated Panels (SIP) that are manufactured locally in Murchison by selectSIPs, the tiny homes are incredibly well insulated and tick all the boxes for passive living and reduced energy demands. The panels are extremely structural, energy efficient, and have a 6-star environmental rating as the airtightness and reduced heat loss provide a consistent and controllable airtight building envelope resulting in lower energy consumption year-round. Paired with double glazed and thermally broken windows, tiny homes are heated from everyday living making it very comfortable temperature wise. Healthy Home standards ventilation and heat transfer units are included in the build. “The whole SIP concept is amazing and is where building should be heading in New Zealand. SIP has been around for many years in Europe as it’s ideal for a cold climate and there’s a range of insulation values available. Panel thickness ensure insulation values are the best on the market and well above building code regulations,” he says. “Our most popular model is a 10.5 m long single floor home. We keep our builds under 3.1 metres width for ease of transport as you don’t need a pilot vehicle which keeps costs down.” 4 Rivers Tiny Homes are flexible in design, size, interior layout, and single or mezzanine floor living. All homes are bespoke, and people can also bring their own plans that Ryan will advise on to ensure maximum space and storage. “Layout and storage are our primary focus along with using on point fixtures and fittings. We only use quality fixtures and bespoke joinery. Our homes are finished to turn-key with no extra hidden costs. Our ethos is to create high spec tiny homes at an affordable price,” says Ryan. Prices range from $180,000 to $220,000 depending on size, layout and finishings. Moving to Cromwell to build a house for his parents resulted in Michael Harrold gaining so much work he never left town. “It was never the sole focus at the time to start my own business, I was supposed to do one build in Cromwell and go back to Wanaka. I had to do another build in Cromwell and got quite a few in Queenstown and it sort of just took off.” His company, Michael Harrold Builders, has now been operating out of Cromwell for eight years. “We don’t really do one genre of work, we are happy to do anything. We still do pretty much 90% of the building work as well; fixing our own gib still do some roofing. I try and reduce the amount of subbies on-site to keep my team going. “I enjoy doing as much building work as I can, and it’s easier to control things the less people you have on site.” The variety of work Michael Harrold Builders has been involved in recently includes a straw bale house and a high end architectural build for an architectural designer. For a Mount Pisa home, Michael Harrold Builders provided the structural elements, but a specialist company built the straw bale walls with straw sourced from Canterbury, and plastered the walls. Straw bale houses have extremely high insulation values and are finished with a coat of plaster which is typically earth or lime based. The spacious house comprises two linked pavilions and has a footprint of more than 300 square metres. There are three bedrooms with two ensuites, plus a separate bathroom and a large loft above the garage which provides space for bunks and a games room for the grandchildren. Last winter was the client’s first in the house and “they absolutely loved it”, Michael says. It is heated by a ducted heat pump, but this has had little work to do and the difference between the summer and winter power bill was minimal, while on hot days the inside temperature remained pleasant without air conditioning. “They absolutely love it.” A complement to Harrold Building’s craftsmanship was being contracted to build a house for Cromwell architectural designer Scott Ede. Both inside and out, the home stands out for its detailing and design features which palpably adds touches of class and individuality. Michael worked closely with Scott in the choice of materials which, on the exterior, comprise dark-toned Eurotray cladding and horizontal shiplap cedar. Natural lighting inside is well-considered through the inclusion of 11 skylights and is not only practical but creates a beautiful ambience. The kitchen is simply stunning in white with touches of warmth through addition of subtle Indonesian-influenced timber and rattan features including the island chairs. This theme is repeated in cabinetry and furniture elsewhere, all complemented with timber flooring which further adds to the warmth. The abundant glazing includes ranchsliders on two sides of the kitchen/dining/living area, with one side opening onto a barbecue area. Each pavilion has a lean-to and each unit is stepped up in height from the street to the rear of the property, while the rear pavilion has a greater wall height than the front pavilion. The 275 square metre floor area includes a dual purpose office space for the clients who both work from home, plus a bedroom with an attached lounge and kitchenette for guests or Airbnb accommodation. The tiny homes tick all the boxes for passive living and reduced energy demands. Please to be associated with 4 Rivers Tiny Homes Plumbing • Drainage • Service & Maintenance Drain Clearing & Camera Inspection Solar Hot Water • Concrete Core Drilling Fire Installations • Wastewater Treatment 021 873 098 info@annesbrookplumbing.nz BETTER HOMES, BETTER FUTURES. Join us in building a better tomorrow for our communities. Warm, dry and safe homes our whānau can thrive in. Homes built faster and smarter and well above the industry standard. Homes for New Zealanders. Proudly Supporting 4 Rivers Tiny Homes +64 21 086 123 19 marketing@selectsip.nz www.selectsip.nz Email andrew.tall01@gmail.com Phone 021 771 570 Design & Build, Multi Room Audio Domestic, Commercial, Maintenance Proudly Supporting Harrold Building Ltd
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