Gibson House Wairau Village Blenheim, Marlborough

Stephen and Karen are building this new passive solar home on a lifestyle block in the Wairau Village area 25km south west of Blenheim, Marlborough. A separate shed is also being built as temporary accommodation on site while they build, this will also house the 4.6kW solar power system which will run the house and shed. Materials are simple board and batten weatherboard. A Maxraft floor with exposed coloured concrete will help keep the home warm in winter, as this site is not far down the valley from the Alpine region of Nelson Lakes National Park.