102 | Dan Darwen Builders BUILDING Daniel Bruning - Diggs 027 307 8774 diggslimited@gmail.com Big on Quality, Small in Size Award-winning Results from your local Golden Bay Team Specialising in Residential Earthworks and more 035250005 sales@takakaitm.co.nz T T Russell Fredric Coastal home with a special addition Natural, durable materials were selected for the coastal environment, including Accoya Grey timber cladding and decking. A beachfront home with a separate, 40sqm tree hut-style office has given Takaka builder, Dan Darwen, the opportunity to deliver one of his most distinctive projects. Dan has run his business for over 23 years, with the eight-person team taking on everything from farm and light commercial work to residential and architectural homes, renovation and extension projects. The company works from the ground up, including roofing and concreting, reflecting the realities of building in Golden Bay. A typical week might involve a pole shed, commercial project, renovation or architectural home, with Dan reluctant to turn down work that can lead to something bigger. The variety of work has helped the business develop through word of mouth and repeat clients, while giving its three apprentices exposure to a broad range of construction, Dan says. “We do everything. One week we could be doing a pole shed, sometimes a bit of a bigger commercial project, architectural homes, volume housing – pretty much anything from the ground up.” The recent beachfront project was completed over two years. Dan says the brief was for a robust, single-level family home on an exposed coastal site at the edge of Golden Bay, sitting low in the landscape to take in the rural and coastal outlook, while standing up to a high wind zone. Its 235sqm floor plan centres on an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area opening onto a north-facing deck. A separate wing to the east contains the master suite, accessed via a glass corridor with direct access to a north-facing deck. A guest wing to the west has two further bedrooms with ensuites and access to west-facing decks. A TV snug/office, scullery and laundry, and garaging complete the layout. Natural, durable materials were selected for the coastal environment, including Accoya Grey timber cladding and decking, cedar windows and doors, Colorsteel roofing and exterior cladding in Flaxpod Matte, stone baths and European oak joinery. The most unique element is the husband’s office; a 40sqm tree hut built about five metres above the ground among manuka trees. The structure presented a construction challenge, requiring substantial foundations in beach sand while working around the existing trees. It is supported on large poles and was designed to sit within the manuka rather than removing the trees. Dan and his team are delighted with the result of the family home and tree hut office, as are the clients. “It looks absolutely magic and they’re absolutely beaming about it,” says Dan. “This one’s been a great job to be part of, and all the team who have been working down there loved it as well. “We delivered this build with real skill and care – the complex multi-gabled roofline, the quality of the timber joinery throughout, and the finish achieved on a demanding coastal site all speak to the pride we take in getting the details right.” A member of Master Builders New Zealand, the company is supported by local subcontractors and suppliers, who Dan uses regularly. In Golden Bay, where bringing people and materials over the hill can create delays, reliability is highly valuable. “It works both ways; they know they can rely on me for work and I can rely on them to turn up.” INTERIOR & EXTERIOR RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL HIGH QUALITY FINISHES RELIABLE & PROFESSIONAL
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