Locally grown

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This classic-look weatherboard residence is built from two giant redwoods milled from the land it stands on

Aerial view of the exterior which features redwood aerial photography, cottage, estate, home, house, mountain, real estate, sky, tree, village, brown, white — Aerial view of the exterior which features redwood weatherboard cladding, metal roofing, landscaping, doors and windows.

View of the open-plan living area with leather floor, home, house, interior design, living room, real estate, room, window, gray

View of the kitchen with island, white cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, white, gray

View of bedroom featuring large floor-to-ceiling window, bed bedroom, door, estate, home, house, interior design, property, real estate, room, suite, window, gray, white

View of bedroom featuring large floor-to-ceiling window, bed architecture, bed, bed frame, bedroom, ceiling, home, interior design, mattress, real estate, room, wall, window, gray, white

Image of the exterior which features redwood weatherboard architecture, cottage, elevation, estate, facade, farmhouse, home, house, land lot, landscape, property, real estate, residential area, siding, white

Image of the exterior which features redwood weatherboard backyard, cottage, facade, home, house, property, real estate, siding, window, yard

Image of the exterior which features redwood weatherboard backyard, cottage, estate, facade, home, house, porch, property, real estate, siding, window, white

Image of the exterior which features redwood weatherboard backyard, cottage, facade, farmhouse, home, house, porch, property, real estate, siding, window, yard, brown, white

Image of the exterior which features redwood weatherboard cottage, estate, farmhouse, home, house, landscape, property, real estate, brown

View of a living area with leather sofas, ceiling, furniture, interior design, living room, room, waiting room, gray, black

Image of the outdoor area and pool which backyard, estate, home, house, leisure, outdoor structure, property, real estate, swimming pool, villa, teal, white

Image of the outdoor entertaining area which features cottage, home, house, outdoor structure, patio, property, real estate, gray

In a contemporary building environment your roof might come from across the country and your blinds might have started their life in France. In contrast, there can be few things more satisfying than building a house from timber grown on your own land.

The seaside residence on these pages was designed and built by Tony Hill, the CEO of Fowler Homes. Upon felling two 60m-tall redwoods on his property in preparation for development, Hill was advised that redwood is a stable timber suited to weatherboards and the idea for the home's construction material was born.

"Having created an appropriate design, I had the trees milled and machined locally, producing all the weatherboards, cappings, facings and mouldings required," he says. "Ithen built and landscaped the house over a four-year period."

The finished 407m² home is a showcase for Fowler Homes a working example of the integrity of build and attention to detail the company employs on all its projects.

"Traditional construction techniques were used, such as solid timber bargeboards on all gables, timber sills and hand-housed redwood facings and corner scribe sections," says Hill. "The entire house is set on a solid concrete plate."

The home's interior also features old-school building methods. The skillion roof is underbraced in a timber framework and rooms are finished in tongue-and-groove boards, evoking a boatshed aesthetic.

The layout comprises twin two-level wings, each with four bedrooms, and a large central living and kitchen space.

"This layout allows guests to have a wing to themselves when they stay," says Hill.

Stacking doors in the living area maximise the views and an overhang on the front deck minimises impact of the hot summer sun, while admitting the lower winter sun for passive solar storage within the polished concrete floor and substrate. A span of doors next to the kitchen allows for cross ventilation in summer.

Other green inclusions are a water-jacketed firebox for hot water, and rain runoff is filtered for use as drinking water.

"Solid, well designed and energy efficient, this home is a working example of Fowler Homes' residences," says Hill.