Nestled in the valley below stunning Mt Manaia in Northland’s Whangarei Heads, our client presented us with a challenge to deliver a full-featured automated home using the power of the sun.
Completely off-grid, the farm relies on solar and wind power sources to charge a 48-volt lithium-ion battery system, with a generator for back-up if required, so power conservation was a consideration in every part of this design.
The large 8 bay shed provides space for farm equipment or parties, with attached living at one end in the form of a 100 square meter, open-plan apartment. As the living space is compact, a clean aesthetic helped maintain the appearance of spaciousness.
As the living area will eventually become a guest house, simplicity of use was high on the list of key deliverables.
The keyless entry system has a single pin code which opens all doors and automatically un-sets the alarm. The access control system also allows the owners to login and create single use codes for Airbnb guests. In addition to using the code, the client can lock or unlock all doors by presenting their mobile phones to the reader.
