Gisborne: High energy

This award-winning, energy-efficient home in Gisborne offers some unique touches and spectacular East Cape views.

"We're not developers and we feel [the land] needs somebody with a bit of foresight and experience to develop it properly."

Peter and June Schaap don't like to rush things. After they bought 200ha of prime land just outside Gisborne, it took them a couple of years to decide where they wanted to build their new home.

"There were so many choices it was difficult to work out where the best spot was," says Peter.

Eventually they chose a site with breathtaking views from Mahia to Makorori. There was nothing on the land - which was half of the original Wainui Station, lying between Gisborne and Wainui beach - so the Schaaps had to put in a road.

Originally Peter, from Zimbabwe, and June, from Scotland, wanted to build a straw bale house. "But we chickened out because we didn't think it was a technology adequately tried in exposed New Zealand sites," says Peter.

Instead, the couple, who have three small children, opted for a home designed to be as energy efficient as possible. Built with double framing, so that the walls are extra thick, it has polished concrete floors with diesel-powered underfloor heating controlled by a thermostat.

There are lots of large, double-glazed windows in the plastered house, which not only allow the Schaaps to enjoy the views, but let the sunshine flood in in winter, heating up the concrete floors.

"It's very warm in winter and cool in summer. It's a great house to live in," says Peter.

It went on to win a Master Builders Association Award for energy efficiency.

The four-year-old home features many unique touches. Totara posts from the old Gisborne Hospital line the walkway to the front door, and doors that used to hang in the Masonic pub now close off a large storage area in the house. Plywood in a range of colours was used in the kitchen, and the handles on the doors and drawers are all different. "Some are just stones we liked and picked up," says Peter.

Along with the kitchen there are two living areas, a dining room, bathroom and two bedrooms downstairs. The master bedroom is upstairs - with an en suite, study and another bedroom - and has bifold windows that open up to bring the outside in. "We've got the best views in Gisborne from our bed," says Peter.

The house is surrounded on three sides by a deck, which is covered on one side by a shade sail. The garden has been landscaped with mostly native plants, including pohutukawa, hebes, cabbage trees and flaxes.

The property feels very rural, yet it's just a 10-minute drive from Gisborne, which is a factor Peter thinks will appeal to prospective purchasers.

Although they love living there, the Schaaps have decided to sell because they feel they're not making the most of the property.

"The value of the land is in its potential for subdivision. We're not developers and we feel the land needs somebody with a bit of foresight and experience to develop it properly," says Peter, an anaesthetist.

The land is currently leased for grazing but its zoning allows subdivision to one hectare.

"There are lots of great places you could put a house," says Peter. "We know, because we looked at them all before we finally built!"

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Wheatstone Rd, Gisborne.

FEATURES: 200ha property with award-winning energy-efficient house; two living areas; dining room; large kitchen; four bedrooms; two bathrooms (one en suite); study; internal-access garage; extensive decking; heat-retaining polished concrete flooring with underfloor heating; double-glazed windows.

SIZE: Floor area 350sq m. Property able to be subdivided down to 1ha.

TENDER CLOSES: April 15. Interest expected above $3 million.

AGENTS: James Mac Pherson and Rod Chrisp, Bayleys. Ph 06 868 5188 bus; James 021 488 018 mob; Rod 021 486 860 mob.