Strength and grace
From its wrought iron front gate to concrete block walls and solid timber frame doors, an Eden Homes house is built for the duration
The homes dotting the Tuscan hillsides have captured the imagination of architects from all corners of the globe. There are good reasons for this. Firstly, they exude solid strength from every angle and deep-set window reveal. Second, they display consummate workmanship in honest materials throughout.
Masonry homes specialist Eden Homes has built its reputation on creating homes that evoke these traditional aesthetics of solidity and craftsmanship. Director Rob Dines says he chose a masonry block form of construction because it forms a practical basis for this enduring style of home.
"We are a design and build company, and also offer a portfolio of pre-built designs to choose from, such as the Cortona featured here," he says. "However all our homes share important common factors."
The classic Italian feel he refers to goes beyond the houses' solid concrete block bones. Eden Homes' high skill level is exhibited in wrought ironwork indoors and out, the precision laid tile or timber floors, natural stone detailing, wood shutters and braced door frames.
"Everything about these homes is solid, honest and lasting," says Dines. "However, beyond the simple, classic feel they also afford everything required for a contemporary New Zealand way of life."
In the first instance this means that despite their impressive size, the homes are designed to sit well in a rural or coastal setting, or on an inner city plot of land.
Other tailor-made advantages for the New Zealand family include interiors that offer plenty of room to move. Eden Homes' interiors feature open-plan living spaces and many have light-filled, double-height atriums. Ample glazing and well-positioned French doors create an easy connection with the outdoors, another popular requirement of the New Zealand home buyer.
"Our homes also offer the best possible living environment in terms of warmth and peace and quiet," he says. "This is another benefit of masonry block construction."
The dense thermal mass of the thick blockwork walls provides protection from extremes of heat and cold. In winter, walls absorb heat during the day, releasing it at night. Conversely, in summer, the houses are insulated from the heat and stay cooler. In addition, the blockwork provides excellent acoustic control, with very little sound travelling in from the neighbours or even between rooms.
Dines' product of choice for Eden Homes is Stevenson's versatile DryBlock.
"DryBlock offers all the advantages of the standard masonry block, but several others besides," he says. "Used together with Stevenson's DryMortar, DryBlock renders the walls of our homes impervious to water, a vital consideration in New Zealand's often rain-swept climate.
Stevenson offers DryBlock in a distinctive architectural range, with a variety of textured faces and colours available, providing other design advantages for Dines.
For details on Eden Homes or showhome information, phone (09) 274 8890. Website: www.edenhomes.co.nz.
For details on DryBlock, phone 0800 Dryblock. Email: info@stevensons.co.nz.
Story by: Trendsideas
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