92 | Spirus Group ARCHITECTURE PRESTON PRE-CUT LTD MANUFACTURERS OF ROOF TRUSSES AND WALL FRAMES Ph: 03 218 3647 • Brent Cell: 0274 15 1963 30 Mersey St, Invercargill • Email: prestonprecuts@xtra.co.nz • Prenail Frames • Roof Trusses • Loose Timber NZO SG • Claw Beams • Laminated and LVL Timbers Suppliers of: A wave of opportunity in Riverton T T Kim Newth Award-winning architect Maurice Orr describes Riverton, in Southland, as one of the country’s last remaining undiscovered gems. Careful development of the historic coastal town is bringing enticing opportunities for more people to own a beachside home in this special place. Maurice is the architectural force behind Spirus Group, a small development team that has delivered 16 homes in Riverton to date. He has partnered with acclaimed local master builders, Kennedy Building, to present the group’s latest development, Taramea. Their vision is to create carefully designed beach homes that are genuinely affordable. Whether as a year-round lifestyle or a beach holiday getaway, Taramea is now fast shaping up as an exciting haven for relaxation, recreation and escape. From Riverton’s main street, you cross the estuary on a bridge and then turn left to Taramea Bay,” says Maurice. “It’s a sheltered bay with an inner beach environment that’s very safe for families with young children. If you go farther out, there’s a really nice right hand, long board surf wave. “We chose to invest in the beach area — not to make money, but because we wanted to create something simple yet interesting that would also be cost effective for people.” Two showhomes, currently under construction off Church Street at Taramea Bay, are due to open by the end of this year. Another two homes will also be completed by then. All the new homes under construction have three-bedroom layouts, apart from a smaller one-bedroom home. In total, plans have been developed for eight sites. “From the showhomes, there are great views down the street to the beach and ocean. We’re confident there will be plenty to see here by Christmas. “We’re targeting a $500,000 to $650,000 sale price bracket. That’s very competitive and likely appeal to first home buyers through to people looking for beach homes or Airbnb options.” The focus on affordability and inspired simplicity resonates with the name ‘Spirus’, which loosely means ‘hope in the rural landscape’. Maurice has a track record of success with small, smart design. In 2024, in conjunction with Assembly Architects, he won a Southern Architecture Award and a Resene Colour Award for a small-scale, sophisticated commercial project, Roost Arrowtown. At Taramea, homes are being built very efficiently using some pre-manufactured elements. Timber piles are being used for elevation, in step with environmental considerations. The simple, angled design with hip roof ensures these north-facing homes will be visually striking both from the street and from within. Covered porch areas with solid timber framing are designed for shelter and easy connection with the beach. Interior plywood walls feature a mix of natural and painted finishes, along with board and batten treatments. “It’s all about embracing that relaxed, beach living feel, which is a particular focus in the Airbnb market.” Spirus Group owns another large tract of land at Taramea Bay and has long term plans for further development there. “The land is gently sloping from the north so future sites will orient north and have a view over the bay — it’s a perfect canvas.” “We’re targeting a $500,000 to $650,000 sale price bracket. That’s very competitive and likely appeal to first home buyers through to people looking for beach homes or Airbnb options.” Whether as a year-round lifestyle or a beach holiday getaway, Taramea Bay at Riverton is now fast shaping up as an exciting haven for relaxation, recreation and escape.
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