A family holiday home dreams are made of.

Hidden away in the Marlborough Sounds, this project did not come without challenges, converting the existing bach and sleepout into an energy-efficient, modern and comfortable accommodation for the whole family to enjoy.

All existing buildings were made from uninsulated Tri-board walls and ceilings, a thick particle board panel, had single glazed Aluminium windows and exterior cladding that was rapidly failing and rotting.

The existing sleepout was completely removed, extensive works were undertaken to stabilise the site and control site water. 9 meter retaining poles providing a site suitable for a modern building on this old Forestry Skid site. The sleepout was replaced with 2 Pods capable of sleeping a family each, constructed out of Formance SIP panel and a clever Stiebel Eltron decentralised ventilation system to keep the air in the units fresh and clean 24/7 and without taking up the space of a larger ducted unit.

The main bach was stripped back to the plywood cladding which was then over-clad with low-maintenace and long lasting Nu-Wall Aluminium weatherboard. Windows were upgraded to thermally broken Aluminium, Insulation was added, and a Lossnay heat pump and ventilation system was installed. Internal walls were altered to create a much more welcoming and modern space. Ashin TG&V to the steep gable ceilings are the real feature of this project.

Outside living spaces were altered to work with geography and sunshine and extensive retaining and decking areas were added with thick, chunky Vitex decking that had all fixings screwed and plugged linking all areas together.

A challenging project, but upgrading existing poor housing to ensure they last for future generations is one of the best ways of improving our level of housing across the board. The ultimate result on this project is not only a stunning family retreat, but accomodation that performs well and provides the best comfort possible.

Tell us about your Project