Tuscan invitation

Traditional European design has an understated charm that never falls from grace. Solid masonry building techniques are equally enduring providing hassle-free house ownership, decade after decade after decade.

Eden Homes is a design-and-build company focused on this winning combination, and it has a heritage that goes back generations, says director Rob Dines.

"Our extended industry experience began in 1953 when Eden Homes first started out as a small family business," says the registered master builder. "Today, we offer a broad portfolio of European-style homes and can also build to a client's own plans."

The Eden Homes portfolio includes a mix of two-storey and single-level homes. The names of the designs are as evocative as the sight of the houses themselves Sienna, Sovana, Cortona, Toscana, Florentine and Avignon.

"Whether adapting one of our designs, building a custom house, or working to your own plans, several elements remain the same for us reliable construction, aesthetic integrity and a close attention to every detail," says Dines.

Staying true to these ideals has paid off for the company, both in terms of growing the business and industry accolades.

"We've only entered the Master Builders' House of the Year Awards twice and we've won four awards," he says. "These include Gold for the showhome of the year in 2006 and winning overall category award in the same year."

With their exposed timber eaves, deep-set window reveals and rock-solid masonry features, Eden Homes' portfolio of houses may look like it was plucked from the Italian countryside, but the homes are also purpose-built for the New Zealand environment and way of life. In the first instance, this means that despite their impressive size, the houses are designed to sit well in either a rural or coastal setting, or on an inner-city plot of land.

Another feature designed specifically for New Zealanders is the generous, open-plan living areas suited to family life and entertaining. Many Eden Homes houses also feature welcoming double-height atriums. In addition, ample glazing and well-positioned French doors ensure light-filled interiors and an easy connection with the outdoors another popular requirement of the New Zealand house buyer.

At the heart of these homes is their reliable masonry construction. With all the controversy surrounding watertight house construction in recent years, masonry block gives owners complete peace of mind. Blockwork has long been seen as an all-weather, practical solution to New Zealand's changeable weather that throws slanting rain from changeable wind directions at our residences. However, Eden Homes has taken this a step further. Rob Dines' product of choice for his 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."

However, building a house block by block has other advantages too. The dense thermal mass of the blockwork walls provides protection from extremes of heat and cold. In winter, walls absorb heat during the day, releasing it at night to create a warm, snug ambience. In summer, the houses are insulated from the heat and provide a comfortable, cooler ambient temperature indoors. In addition, the blockwork provides effective acoustic control, with very little sound travelling in from the neighbours or even from the next room.

"Stevenson offers DryBlock in standard and architectural ranges, with several colours and textured finishes available. These blocks, like the Eden Homes portfolio, offer versatility and reliability," says Dines.

For details on Eden Homes or showroom information, phone (09) 274 8890. Website: www.edenhomes.co.nz.

For details on Stevenson's DryBlock, phone 0800 Dryblock (3792 5625). Email: info@stevensons.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas