INSPIRATION CAN COME IN MANY FORMS. BUT WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT A RUSTY OLD CAR WOULD INSPIRE A COUPLE TO BUILD A $1.6 DREAM HOME? 'GRAND DESIGNS' THEME CAPTIONS BY INGRID LAUDER AND ALANA DRAYTON. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016 CURIOUS MUSIC STEVE WILSON AND WENDY GRELL HAVE SPENT MUCH OF THEIR MARRIED LIFE LIVING IN THE CITY. BUT THEY'RE FEELING THE CALL OF THE OCEAN. BASICALLY, WE'RE OVER THE TRAFFIC, AREN'T WE? YEP. IT'S TAKING SO LONG TO GET ANYWHERE, AND STEVE GETS QUITE STRESSED IN THE MORNINGS GOING TO WORK. WE DON'T NEED STRESS IN OUR LIVES THESE DAYS, AND THE KIDS HAVE FLOWN THE NEST AND... YEAH, AND JUST WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DO WITHOUT AUCKLAND AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT. MM. UM, YEAH, SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN, I GUESS. WENDY'S A TRAINED NURSE, BUT AUSTRALIAN STEVE HAS ALWAYS HAD SALT IN HIS VEINS. HE'S A FORMER COMPETITIVE SAILOR WHO NOW DESIGNS RIGS FOR SUPERYACHTS. SAILED SINCE I WAS A KID AND ALWAYS WANTED TO BE INVOLVED IN SAILING OR IN THE SAILING INDUSTRY. MY OLD MAN ENDED UP TELLING ME JUST TO GET OVER HERE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE` AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, NZ WAS KIND OF A SAILING MECCA, RACING MECCA OF THE WORLD, REALLY. WENDY GREW UP ON A WAIKATO DAIRY FARM AND IS MORE OF A LANDLUBBER. WENDY DOESN'T REALLY LIKE SAILING. SHE LIKES IT WHEN YOU GET THERE. (LAUGHS) BUT I LIKE THE GETTING THERE BIT. OH, I'M GETTING MORE AND MORE USED TO IT, THOUGH. LIVING AT SEA WAS NOT AN OPTION, BUT STEVE, WENDY AND THEIR DOG, EDDIE, ARE MOVING AS CLOSE AS THEY CAN TO IT. GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC THE LOCATION IS TAIHARURU BAY, A SMALL COASTAL COMMUNITY IN NORTHLAND, THREE HOURS' DRIVE FROM AUCKLAND CITY. SO WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS PLACE THAT YOU REALLY LOVE? IT'S A REAL, KINDA, NORTHLAND BEACH ` RUGGED. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND WHEN YOU GET HERE. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT CAN BE ALL PEBBLES, AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU COME UP AND ALL THE SAND'S BACK. AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT. I SPENT A LOT OF MY CHILDHOOD IN THE COUNTRY, SO HAVING THE FARMLAND AROUND HERE, FOR ME, IS VERY SPECIAL, BECAUSE I CAN ALWAYS GO FOR A WALK AND SMELL THE COW POO! (LAUGHS) LAUGHTER SHE LIKES THE SMELL OF COW POO. STEVE, WENDY AND THEIR TWO SONS HAD A HOLIDAY HOUSE HERE FOR 15 YEARS. BUT THEY'VE NOW DEMOLISHED THE CLASSIC BACH TO MAKE WAY FOR A MODERN NEW HOME. KIDS JUST LOVE IT UP HERE. AND I KNOW OUR KIDS, WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER, THEY` THEY JUST WANTED TO COME UP HERE ALL THE TIME. WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF SPOTS UP IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS, COS WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE PRACTICAL TO HAVE THE BOAT CLOSE BY. AND, UM, WHEN WE TOLD THE KIDS THAT, THEY REMINDED ME THAT I TOLD THEM 15 YEARS AGO THAT THIS PLACE WOULD NEVER BE SOLD AND YOU'D HAVE TO BURY ME IN THE FRONT LAWN. (CHUCKLES) AND, UH, SO, UH, THAT CAME UP AND I THOUGHT, 'WELL, YEP, THEY'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.' HOLIDAYING HERE'S ONE THING, BUT ACTUALLY MOVING IN AND LIVING HERE, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, AREN'T WE? DON'T KNOW YET. (LAUGHS) YOU KNOW, UM, WE'VE SPENT ENOUGH TIME UP HERE TO KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE JUST` JUST FINE. THERE'S A GOOD LITTLE COMMUNITY HERE, UM, SO IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN. IT WILL BE A GOOD CHANGE AS WELL. SO SHOW ME THE SITE, GUYS. LET'S GO AND HAVE A LOOK. STEVE AND WENDY'S LAND ` OR SHOULD I SAY SAND ` IS ONLY ABOUT 10M BACK FROM THE HIGH-TIDE LINE. SO, GUYS, WHAT HAVE YOU COME UP WITH? WELL, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. I CALL IT SHANTINESS, ACTUALLY. SHANTINESS? SHANTINESS, YEAH. IT'S KIND OF` IT'S A BIT LIKE` IT'S KIND OF A BIT LIKE NORTHLAND, I GUESS. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, YOU DRIVE AROUND NORTHLAND THERE'S, SORT OF, STUFF LYING AROUND. THERE'S OLD BARNS. THERE'S, SORT OF, RUSTY CARS AND MACHINERY. SORT OF WANTED TO CAPTURE THAT KIND OF, UM, EFFECT. WHAT STEVE CALLS SHANTY IS IN FACT CUTTING-EDGE DESIGN. HE AND WENDY'S HOME WILL BE DIVIDED INTO SIX STEEL-FRAMED SECTIONS, WITH WALLS AND ROOFLINES JUTTING IN AND OUT AT VARYING ANGLES. THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE WILL EMBRACE OCEAN VIEWS WITH A TWO-STOREY WALL OF WINDOWS. BEHIND LIES AN OPEN-PLAN LIVING AREA AND MEZZANINE BEDROOM. TO THE REAR ARE TWO GUEST BEDROOMS AND A LARGE DOUBLE GARAGE. INTERIOR WALLS WILL BE LINED WITH PLY MOUNTED ON BLACK BATONS TO CREATE INTRICATE NEGATIVE DETAILING. THIS PLY PATTERN WILL BE MIRRORED ON THE OUTSIDE WITH THE HOUSE'S CROWNING GLORY ` 155 SHEETS OF RUSTY WEATHERING STEEL. STEVE AND WENDY BELIEVE THIS WILL ENABLE THE HOUSE TO BLEND INTO ITS ENVIRONMENT, BUT I SUSPECT THEIR BOLD RUSTY HOME WILL BE QUITE A STANDOUT IN THIS QUIET, UNASSUMING BAY. YOU GOT THIS COLLECTION OF HOUSES HERE, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, VERY VERY DIFFERENT TO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT. HOW DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA COPE WITH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE UP TO? (LAUGHS) I DON'T KNOW! WELL, YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT, AND THERE'S` YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT OR HATE IT, I GUESS. AND, UH` BUT, UH, THEY'LL GET USED TO IT. THEY'LL ADJUST. BOTH LAUGH TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IN THE BEGINNING WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE WERE DISCUSSING IT, I, SORT OF, WAS VERY UNSURE ABOUT IT. BUT THEN WE'VE HAD A LOOK AT A FEW BUILDINGS, AND I LOVE THE COLOUR. I JUST LOVE THE COLOUR, AND I THINK IT BLENDS IN WITH THE ENVIRONMENT HERE. SO I'M EXCITED NOW. SO IT'S GONNA BE FAIRLY INTRIGUING AND COMPLEX TO BUILD, THEN? IT'S` THE BUILDER HAS EXPRESSED HIS... CONCERN... CONCERNS. ...ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY. THAT'S FOR SURE. OH BOY. SO WHAT'S THE BUDGET FOR THE HOUSE? UH, MORE THAN WE WANTED IT TO BE, I GUESS. UM, BUT IT'S` I THINK IT'S RUNNING AT ABOUT 1.6. THAT MUST BE ABOUT 8000 A SQUARE METRE. YEAH, BUT, UM, IT IS A COMPLEX BUILDING, AND, UM,... I THINK IF YOU TRY AND COMPROMISE TOO MUCH, YOU'LL JUST LOSE THAT KIND OF FEEL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE AFTER. UPLIFTING PIANO MUSIC WHAT STEVE AND WENDY REALLY LOVE IS THIS CLADDING ` IT'S WEATHERING STEEL. BUT YOU MIGHT KNOW OF IT BY ITS TRADE NAME ` COR-TEN. IT'S WHAT SHIPPING CONTAINERS ARE MADE OF, BUT PEOPLE HAVE STARTED USING IT ON HOUSES. STEVE AND WENDY'S ARCHITECT, KEN CROSSON, DESIGNED THIS HOME IN MATAKANA. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S RUSTING AWAY, BUT IT'S NOT. AS THE SURFACE RUSTS, THE STEEL CREATES A PROTECTIVE COATING UNDERNEATH, SO IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY CORRODE. I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT'S A WONDERFULLY RUGGED MATERIAL THAT JUST GETS BETTER WITH AGE. BUT STEEL CAN BE VERY UNFORGIVING TO WORK WITH, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'VE HAD IT PRE-CUT INTO PANELS OFF-SITE, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THOSE PANELS NEED TO LINE UP PRECISELY ON THE OUTSIDE OF AN ASYMMETRICAL HOUSE. THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT BUILD, REQUIRING THE SKILLS OF AN EXPERIENCED BUILDER. SO I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED THE HEAD BUILDER AND SITE MANAGER IS 29-YEAR-OLD OLLIE TUCK. WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH, YEAH, TO HAVE A TIGHT CREW. EVERYONE WORKS WELL. EVERYONE'S GOT EACH OTHER'S BACK. AND WE TRY TO RUN IT AS A DEMOCRACY THAN A DICTATORSHIP. IT'S ALL A TEAM EVENT. STEVE AND WENDY HAVE SOLD THEIR FAMILY HOME AND BOUGHT AN APARTMENT, LIVING IN AUCKLAND UNTIL THE BUILD IS FINISHED. THEY PLAN TO MOVE IN AND HAVE A FAMILY CHRISTMAS IN 10 MONTHS' TIME. LET'S HOPE THE BUILD IS IN SAFE HANDS. WELL, WHEN I SAW THE PLANS, I THOUGHT, 'WOW, THAT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.' IT'S, UM, A VERY INTERESTING DESIGN. ONE OF A KIND. IT'S GOT ALL OF THE COMPLEXITIES THROWN INTO ONE. WE CALL IT A LITTLE BIT OF A NUGGET. IT'S REALLY... (LAUGHS) UM, IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY CHALLENGING LITTLE NUMBER. MOST BUILDS HAVE ROOM FOR A BIT OF NIP AND TUCK IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, IF A MEASUREMENT IS SLIGHTLY OUT, BUT NOT STEVE AND WENDY'S. THE HOUSE IS BEING BUILT TO FIT ITS SHELL OF RUSTY STEEL CLADDING. THESE RUSTY PANELS WILL GO ON LAST, BUT THE DIMENSIONS WON'T BE ABLE TO BE ALTERED. SO FROM DAY ONE, EVERY MEASUREMENT IS CRUCIAL. WHAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY DOING NOW IS SETTING UP THE FINAL EXACT DIMENSION OF THE BUILDING, RIGHT AT THIS FOUNDATION STAGE. SO IT'S NOT NORMALLY HOW YOU DO IT. NORMALLY YOU GET A SORT OF PLATFORM, AND, YOU KNOW, AS BUILDERS WE HAVE A FEW CHANCES TO GET EVERYTHING EXACTLY RIGHT ALONG THE DURATION OF THE, SORT OF, PROJECT. STEEL FRAMES MADE-TO-MEASURE OFF-SITE WILL NEED TO BOLTED TO STEEL POSTS THE BUILDERS ARE CASTING INTO CONCRETE. IF THESE POSTS AREN'T PINPOINT ACCURATE, THE WHOLE HOUSE WILL BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THEY'RE CAST INTO AN EXPOSED FLOOR WITHIN A WALL. SO IF WE GET THEM IN THE WRONG PLACE, THEY'RE GONNA STICK OUT OF THE WALL, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM. SO THERE'S NO GOING BACK FROM THIS POUR. UH, SO... WE'VE` YEAH, WE'LL` IT'LL BE RIGHT. (LAUGHS) STEVE AND WENDY BELIEVE THEIR RADICAL HOME WITH ITS RUSTY CLADDING WILL BLEND IN HERE AT TAIHARURU BAY. I'M NOT CONVINCED. OH, LOOK AT THIS! YEAH. YEAH. THIS IS IT. HELLO! HOW ARE YA, GARY? GOOD TO SEE YOU. EACH WEEK, BOTH RESIDENTS AND REGULAR HOLIDAYMAKERS GATHER AT A LOCAL FARMER'S FOR FISH AND CHIPS AND A CHINWAG. YOU'VE GOT THIS CROSS-SECTION OF NZ, REALLY, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, GOT THE JAFAS, FROM AUCKLAND AND, UM... I THINK YOU NEED TO TRANSLATE. (LAUGHS) YOU GOT THE LOCAL GUYS, AND THERE'S ALWAYS A BIT OF SHIT GOING DOWN, SO IT'S` IT'S` NAH, IT'S GOOD. AND, UM, YOU CAN GET A BIT OF FRESH FISH. AND, UM, A FEW BEERS, AND IT'S BLOODY GOOD TO CATCH UP WITH EVERYBODY. STEVE, IT MUST'VE BEEN A BIT OF A CHALLENGE TO EXPLAIN YOUR EXTRAORDINARY HOUSE TO THE LOCALS. HOW DID YOU DO IT? I HAVEN'T BOTHERED. I HAVEN'T BOTHERED AT ALL. YOU KNOW, WE TRY` WE DIDN'T KEEP IT A SECRET, BUT WE JUST KEPT IT PRETTY CLOSE TO OUR CHESTS. I THINK PEOPLE WILL JUST GET USED TO IT AS IT, SORT OF, DEVELOPS, SO... THE STEEL'S KINDA ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THAT HAPPENS, APPARENTLY, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'LL BE... MIGHT BE A SURPRISE TO SOME PEOPLE. I DUNNO. JUST A WEE BIT (!) YEAH. WELL, IT'S NOT THAT DIFFERENT, IS IT? THIS STRIKES ME AS A TIGHT, UNASSUMING COMMUNITY, AND I WONDER IF STEVE AND WENDY MIGHT BE UNDERESTIMATING THEIR NEW HOME'S POTENTIAL IMPACT. UPLIFTING GUITAR MUSIC IN TAIHARURU BAY, THE FOUNDATIONS FOR STEVE AND WENDY'S RUSTY ASYMMETRICAL HOME ARE NOW SET IN STONE. STEVE, I HOPE YOU'RE PRETTY, UH, HAPPY WITH HOW EVERYTHING'S GONE WITH THE POUR. IS EVERYTHING ACCURATELY IN PLACE? YEAH, I HOPE SO. (CHUCKLES) I MEAN, I'M LOOKING AT THESE THINKING, 'WELL, IT'S SET IN CONCRETE NOW, ISN'T IT?' COS IT'S GOTTA BE MILLIMETRE-PERFECT. IT'S A BIT LIKE YOU PUTTING ONE OF YOUR SPARS UP ON THE BOAT. EXACTLY. AND, UM, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN ` I'VE SEEN THINGS GO WRONG. (LAUGHS) BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ABOUT TIME AND PREPARATION, LIKE ANYTHING. I MEAN, I'M SURE THE GUYS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AND THE PORTALS ARE GONNA TURN UP AND JUST PLONK ON AS PLANNED. AS A MARINE ENGINEER, STEVE'S DETERMINED HIS HOME BY THE SEA WILL BE LOW MAINTENANCE AND WEATHERTIGHT. SO HE'S BEEN RESEARCHING THE WEATHERING STEEL HIS ARCHITECT RECOMMENDED. I'VE GOTTA TELL YOU I KNOW MORE ABOUT COR-TEN STEEL IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS THAN I'VE EVER LEARNT IN THE REST OF MY LIFE. BUT, UM, IT TURNS OUT THE COR-TEN'S NOT REALLY THAT SUITABLE FOR HERE. WE'D GET 30, 40 YEARS OF LIFE OUT OF IT BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. YOU'RE RIGHT BY THE SEA, BASICALLY YOU'RE ON A BOAT, YOU KNOW. AND I STRESSED TO THE GUYS THAT, YOU KNOW, 'BUILD THIS HOUSE LIKE YOU'D BUILD A BOAT.' IT'S GOTTA BE FULLY WATERTIGHT, FULLY WATERPROOF. COS IT DOES GET A HAMMERING HERE AT TIMES. BECAUSE STEVE'S WORRIED HIS RUSTY STEEL WON'T LAST LONG HERE BY THE SEA, HE'S BEEN LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES AND FOUND A POSSIBLE SOLUTION IN AMERICA. THE MATERIAL IS A HIGHER GRADE OF STEEL. IT'S SLIGHTLY MORE NICKEL AND CHROMIUM, UM, WHICH WILL GIVE IT A BETTER RESISTANCE TO CORROSION. WE'VE GOT A PIECE HANGING UP THERE ON THE POST OVER THERE. OH, YOU HAVE. OK. WE'RE JUST SEEING HOW IT'S GONNA REACT NATURALLY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT, UM, THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONCERN IT'S GONNA LOOK THE SAME. RIGHT. AND HENCE THE TEST PIECES AND... A LOT OF EFFORT GOING IN TO MAKING SURE IT'S RIGHT. TIME WILL TELL IF THERE IS ANY CLADDING THAT HAS THE LOOK AND DURABILITY STEVE WANTS. BUT THE SHOW MUST GO ON, AND A WEEK LATER, 9 TONS OF STEEL FRAMING THAT SHOULD HOLD THE CLADDING ALOFT IS TAKING SHAPE. IT'S A DAY OF RECKONING FOR THE YOUNG BUILDERS. IT'S ALL FABRICATED OFF-SITE TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM AND A MODEL. AND, UM, THE CHALLENGE IS EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PERFECT ON SITE HERE FOR IT ALL TO WORK AND GO TOGETHER SMOOTHLY. WE'VE BOLTED. STEVE AND WENDY'S HOUSE IS DIVIDED INTO SIX SECTIONS, ALL WITH WALLS AND ROOFLINES JUTTING OUT AT VARYING ANGLES. ALL THE OUTSIDE WALLS, OR MOST OF THEM, ARE NOT PLUMB, YOU KNOW? THEY'RE ON VARIOUS ANGLES ` 2 DEGREES, 3 DEGREES, 5 DEGREES. AND, UH, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SET THAT UP AND TO BE ON DIMENSIONS. 12 MIL OVER THIS WAY. WE'RE TALKING WITHIN, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF MIL` UM, MILLIMETRES, WHICH IS VERY VERY TIGHT ON SOMETHING THIS BIG. ONE MORE. YEP. HOLD THAT. PERFECT. YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE OUT SLIGHTLY AND YOU LOOK DOWN THE LINE, DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, SO... WHILE THE FRAME APPEARS TO BE FITTING TOGETHER, THE BUILDERS WON'T KNOW IF THIS DEAL IS EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD BE UNTIL THEY START ADDING WALLS, ROOFS AND JOINERY. STEVE AND WENDY'S HOME WILL BE AN ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL, SO IT STRIKES ME AS IRONIC THAT THEIR BRIEF TO ARCHITECT KEN CROSSON WAS TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM DILAPIDATED RUSTY CARS AND SHEDS. THE DESIGN THAT YOU'VE COME UP WITH IN RESPONSE TO THEIR BRIEF OF, I SUPPOSE, A LAID-BACK KIND OF SHANTINESS, I'M NOT REALLY BUYING INTO THAT. I KIND OF FEEL SOMETHING FROM THE DESIGN, LOOKING AT IT, THAT IT FEELS TIGHT AND TAUGHT AND VERY HIGHLY DISCIPLINED. I GET THE SENSE THAT ACTUALLY IT'S NOT GOING TO FEEL VERY RAMBLY AND SHANTY AT ALL. NO, I THINK FROM A DISTANCE, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN YOU SEE IT IN CONTEXT, IT'S GOING TO HAVE THAT LOOSENESS AND THAT CASUALNESS, YOU KNOW. WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS CUTTING EDGE BUT ALSO THAT DID HAVE A CONNECTION WITH THE LITTLE BACH SETTLEMENT THAT WAS HERE. AND SO WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT HAD A ROOF FORM, SO SOMETHING THAT HAD SOMEWHAT OF A GABLE, MUCH LIKE THE OLD BACHES. GETTING STEVE AND WENDY ON BOARD ` AND THEY'RE VERY PRAGMATIC ` THAT MUST'VE BEEN QUITE A CHALLENGE. STEVE, ALL HIS LIFE, HAS BEEN PUSHING THE ENVELOPE FROM A BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW. SO, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE UP FOR IT. STEVE AND WENDY'S DETERMINATION TO HAVE A LOW-MAINTENANCE HOME IS WHAT'S DRIVING STEVE'S SEARCH FOR A SEA-HARDY RUSTY CLADDING. THEY ALREADY THEIR HANDS FULL MAINTAINING THEIR YACHT AND HAVE SEEN THE EFFECTS OF THE OCEAN ON THEIR OLD BACH AT TAIHARURU BAY. WE KNOW` WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE WITH THE OLD BACH, HOW` YEAH, THE OLD BACH BASICALLY FELL APART. DISINTEGRATED, (LAUGHS) DIDN'T IT? YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A HARSH ENVIRONMENT. IT'S LIKE A BOAT. IT'S LIKE THIS THING. IT JUST NEEDS... NEEDS A BIT OF TLC. THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO BUILD IT AS IT IS, LIKE, SOLID. (LAUGHS) YEAH, I MEAN, AND THE ARCHITECTS UNDERSTAND, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY FULLY APPRECIATE WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. BOTH GRUNT MIGHT HAVE PUT A BIT OF WEIGHT ON. I MEAN, I DON'T MIND DOING MAINTENANCE ON THE BOAT, TO BE HONEST, (LAUGHS) BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW` IT'S BOAT STUFF, BUT MAINTENANCE ON THE HOUSE, NAH. GENTLE MUSIC ON A CALM AUTUMN MORNING, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE HOW WILD THIS COAST CAN BE. STEVE AND WENDY STARTED BUILDING THREE MONTHS AGO AND HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH FINE WEATHER, AND I SUSPECT VERY GOOD BUILDERS. OLLIE AND HIS TEAM APPEAR TO BE MAKING LIGHT WORK OF A VERY COMPLEX DESIGN. THE WAY THAT THE STEEL WORK AND ALL YOUR FRAMING IS COMING TOGETHER, ARE THINGS WORKING PRETTY WELL THERE OR...? YEAH. YEAH. ALL FITTED RIGHT. YEAH, IT DID. YEAH. YEP. COS TOLERANCES CAN BE PRETTY TIGHT, REALLY. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. AND COS IT WAS ALL SORT OF GENERATED OFF THE COMPUTER MODEL ` WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF A SITE MEASURE ` UM, WE` YEAH, WE SPENT A LOT OF EMPHASIS TRYING TO GET THAT RIGHT AND SO FAR SEEM TO HAVE PULLED IT OFF. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU'VE BEEN HAVING, OLLIE? UH, GETTING DIFFERENT, UH, CONTRACTORS ENTHUSIASTIC AND EXCITED ABOUT THE ANGLES AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF IT IS` IS DEFINITELY, UM, A CHALLENGE. IT'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY DECLINE WANTING TO THE DO THE JOINERY AT ALL. REALLY? BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF IT. YEAH, I MEAN, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S NOT TOO MANY RIGHT ANGLES IN ANY OF THIS. UH, NO. COMING FROM THE BOATING WORLD, I SUPPOSE THAT'S NOT` IT'S NORMAL. LAUGHTER IT'S NORMAL. I'M NOT SURPRISED JOINERS ARE NERVOUS ABOUT WORKING ON STEVE AND WENDY'S HOME. CREATING WINDOWS FOR ANGLED WALLS IS A NIGHTMARE, BUT NOTHING ABOUT THIS BUILD IS PROVING EASY. STEVE'S TEST STEEL DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY WEATHERING STEEL I'VE SEEN BEFORE. PRETTY GLARY, STEVE. YOU'D BE HAPPY WITH THAT? NO. NO. IT'S PRETTY, UM, RUST-RESISTANT, ISN'T IT? UM... SEEMS TO BE. UM, SO WHAT'S THE PLAN, THEN? SO THE PLAN IS WE USE THE SAME STEEL, BECAUSE IT WILL LAST, BUT WE PRE-WEATHER IT. WE KICK THE RUSTING PROCESS OFF. AND THEN AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THAT WILL REALLY SLOW DOWN AND THAT WILL ALMOST STOP. AND, UM, IT WILL JUST HAVE THAT KIND OF NATURAL RUSTED LOOK. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE CHEMICALLY PRE-RUSTING STEEL FOR A BUILDING BEFORE. THIS SOUNDS EXPERIMENTAL, EVEN RISKY, BUT STEVE HAS TO MAKE A CALL, BECAUSE THE TREATMENT PROCESS IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN AMERICA, AND IT TAKES MONTHS. A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT GOES ON LAST, SO, YOU KNOW, IT CAN TURN UP ANY TIME, REALLY. YOU'RE NOT STARTING TO REGRET THIS DECISION, ARE YOU? (LAUGHS) OH, I'LL TELL YOU IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. YEAH. NO. IT'S JUST... YOU KNOW, I JUST LIKE TO HAVE THINGS NICELY, UM, SORT OF ORGANISED, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ISN'T QUITE ORGANISED YET, BUT WE'LL GET THERE. I'M SURE. PASTORAL STRING MUSIC IT MAY BE KNOWN AS THE WINTERLESS NORTH, BUT WHANGAREI HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RAINFALLS IN THE COUNTRY. STEVE AND WENDY ARE TAKING NO CHANCES WITH THE WEATHER AND ARE SPENDING $15,000 TO WRAP THEIR HALF-BUILT HOME FOR WINTER. THE CLADDING ON THIS JOB IS VERY WEATHER-DEPENDENT. UM, SO IT'S ACTUALLY GOT A WHOLE PLY SUBSTRUCTURE WHICH HAS GOT A MEMBRANE OVER THE WHOLE THING, AND THAT RELIES ON THE PLY BEING DRY FOR THE GUYS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE MEMBRANE OVER THE ENTIRE BUILD. SO WRAPPING THE HOUSE GIVES US THE ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH WEATHER WHILE WORKING ON A VERY WEATHER-DEPENDENT PROCESS. UNDER THE PLASTIC WRAP, THE HOUSE IS FAR FROM CLOSED IN. IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE TO FIND SOMEONE PREPARED TO MAKE THE WINDOWS FOR STEVE AND WENDY'S COMPLEX ANGLED HOME. THE JOINERY IS PROVING TO BE VERY TRICK. MYSELF AND MY GUYS, HONA AND BRUCE, WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE JOINERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE MEASUREMENTS ARE RIGHT, THAT WHAT THEY'RE MEASURING TO IS CORRECT. IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS US PALMING IT OFF ON THEM. I'D LIKE TO THINK IT WAS, BUT IT'S JUST NOT QUITE LIKE THAT ON THESE TRICKY ONES. THE JOINER WHO'S FINALLY ACCEPTED THE JOB IS LOCAL BRUCE WHEATON, WHOSE BEEN IN THE TRADE FOR 30 YEARS. THE JOB'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING JOBS I'VE UNDERTAKEN IN MY TIME IN THIS INDUSTRY. I, UH` BECAUSE OF THE SHAPES AND THE SIZES OF THE WINDOWS ` MOST OF THE WINDOWS HAVEN'T GOT A SQUARE CORNER TO THEM. THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT ANGLES. EVERY ROOF PITCH IS A DIFFERENT PITCH, AND EVERY WALL IS A DIFFERENT ANGLE AS WELL, SO IT'S QUITE COMPLICATED. THE MOST DIFFICULT JOINERY IS FOR WHAT THE BUILDERS CALL WINDOW ONE ` AN 8M X 10M FRAME THAT FILLS MOST OF THE FRONT WALL, INCLUDING STEVE AND WENDY'S MEZZANINE BEDROOM. SO IF YOU'RE GONNA IMAGINE THIS STANDING ON TOP OF THAT, THAT'S THE TOTAL HEIGHT AS WELL. THAT'S ENORMOUS. IT IS, ISN'T IT? IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST BITS OF JOINERY WE'VE, UM, MADE. OH! ESPECIALLY FOR A HOUSE. THE BEDROOM WILL BE FROSTED, FRAMING A SLOT OF CLEAR GLASS IN THE CENTRE PANEL. STEVE AND WENDY HAVE BEEN WORRIED THAT THIS CLEAR SLOT IS TOO SMALL AND WILL COMPROMISE THEIR VIEWS. I THINK THE MAIN CONCERN WAS` WAS, UM, SEEING THE VIEW FROM THE BED. (LAUGHS) THAT WAS A BIG THING FOR STEVE. YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL VIEW, THAT WE WERE JUST WORRIED THAT THAT WAS GONNA BE TOO SMALL. BUT I THINK IF WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL PICTURE NOW, WELL, IT'S GOTTA BE RIGHT, DOESN'T IT? STEVE, WENDY AND THEIR DOG ARE NOW RENTING A BACH NEARBY SO THEY CAN KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON THE BUILD. IT'S NICE TO WORK UP HERE. IT'S QUIET YEAH, IT'S NICE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING, GO FOR A BIT OF A WALK AND, UH, WANDER DOWN TO THE SITE EVERY NOW AND THEN, AND IF OLLIE'S GOT A QUESTION, HE JUST WANDERS DOWN AND GENERALLY HAS A CUP OF COFFEE. THEY NEED TO BE IN MODULES OF 2.4, SO THEY NEED AN EFFECTIVE COVER OF 120, AND THEN YOU CAN TIMES IT BY 10, YEAH, TO GET 1200. AND OLLIE HAS GOT QUESTIONS. THE PLANS CALL FOR MATCHING PLYWOOD ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE. HOWEVER, OLLIE'S DISCOVERED THAT IN ORDER TO USE THIS PLY OUTSIDE, IT WILL NEED TO BE REGULARLY OILED. THAT'S JUST THE SORT OF MAINTENANCE STEVE AND WENDY WANT TO AVOID. IT'S COME TO FRUITION THAT THE HOOP PINE ISN'T, UM, APPROPRIATE TO USE OUTSIDE IN THIS EFFECT. IT'S BASICALLY ABOUT, UM, THE TREATMENT AND THE WAY IT WILL AGE. I'M REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT USING ANY KIND OF PLYWOOD OUTSIDE, JUST BECAUSE OF THE MAINTENANCE, SO IT'S MATTER OF LOOKING AT THE ALTERNATIVES AND SEEING WHAT WE'RE HAPPY WITH. LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED TO BE HAVING TO MAKE A CALL NOW RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, FOUR MONTHS AGO. SO, THIS IS, OBVIOUSLY, THE HOOP PINE. KEN, THEIR ARCHITECT, HAS COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, BUT IT'S NOT CHEAP. A HIGH-DENSITY TIMBER PANEL CALLED PARKLEX, WHICH COSTS 10 TIMES MORE. THE PARKLEX OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T` IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS WOOD. IT'S GETTING SOMETHING THAT FLOWS RIGHT THROUGH THE HOUSE, SO INSIDE TO OUTSIDE, IS EASY TO MAINTAIN, UM, AND DOESN'T BLOW OUR BUDGET COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WATER, YOU KNOW? THE EXTERIOR PLY IS DUE TO GO ON IN A MATTER OF WEEKS SO THAT THE BUILDERS CAN START THEIR WORK ON THE INTERIOR, SO THERE IS PRESSURE TO MAKE ANOTHER BIG DECISION QUICKLY. THE BUILDERS ARE PUSHING AHEAD TO HAVE THE HOUSE READY FOR STEVE AND WENDY'S FAMILY CHRISTMAS IN FOUR MONTHS' TIME. TODAY, THE HUGE JOINERY FOR THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE HAS ARRIVED. THE WINDOW FRAMES DON'T NORMALLY COME IN PIECES LIKE THIS. THEY REALLY LIKE TO SET THEM OUT IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT ` SQUARE IN THE FACTORY AND SQUARE THEM ALL TOGETHER AND DO ALL THE SEALING IN-HOUSE. BUT BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS OF THIS JOB, FORTUNATELY, WE'VE PERSUADED THEM TO BRING IT OUT IN A FEW PIECES. THIS IS ANOTHER REST OF THE YOUNG BUILDER'S TALENTS AS WELL AS THE JOINERS'. THE WINDOW WE CALL WINDOW ONE, IT'S INTEGRATED INTO A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER WINDOWS, AND, UM, ALL COUPLE IN TOGETHER WITH NO TOLERANCE. IT'S RIGHT ON THE FRONT FACADE, AND IT WRAPS AROUND THE SIDE. IT'S CONNECTED WITH WINDOWS COMING OVER AND THEN UNDERNEATH THEM, SO` BUT IT REALLY FRAMES THE VIEW AND CREATES A FRONT FACADE OF THE HOUSE. THIS IS THE BIGGEST WINDOW I'VE EVER PUT IN ` ESPECIALLY THE MOST COMPLICATED, MOST COMPLEX. HOW MUCH HAVE WE GOT, HONA? ABOUT 20. (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) > PHEW. SHE'S GONNA BE TIGHT. IT ALL COMES BACK DOWN TO THE GUYS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB CHASING THOSE MILLIMETRES RIGHT FROM THE START. OH! (LAUGHS) IS THAT US? I TELL YOU WHAT, THERE IS JUST NO TOLERANCE IN THAT. THAT IS IN BY 1MM. I GUESS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WOULDN'T BE A SPECIAL HOUSE IF IT WASN'T CHALLENGING. THIS HOME IS NOT JUST CHALLENGING FOR THE BUILDERS; STEVE AND WENDY ARE DETERMINED TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BUILDING MATERIALS, AND STEVE'S HAD TO FLY TO AMERICA TO INVESTIGATE HIS ALTERNATIVE TO COR-10 STEEL. HE'S BEEN AWAY AN AWFUL LOT THIS YEAR, AND WITH THIS BUILDING PROCESS GOING ON, I THINK IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A STRAIN FOR HIM AT TIMES. BECAUSE OF HIS ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY WELL AWARE OF WHAT PRODUCTS DO AND HOW THEY INTERACT AND EVERYTHING. UM, YEAH, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GET IT RIGHT. HAVING A LOW-MAINTENANCE HOME WAS ALWAYS A PRIORITY FOR STEVE AND WENDY, AND THEY'RE FINDING IT FRUSTRATING THAT THEIR DESIGNERS HAVE INCLUDED MATERIALS THAT MAY REQUIRE MORE WORK THAN THEY HAD HOPED. WELL, THEY HAVE THESE WONDERFUL VISIONS, UM, AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, BUT SOMETIMES IN PRACTICAL TERMS OR PRACTICAL WAYS, IT DOESN'T QUITE WORK OUT THAT WAY. UM, YEAH, ESPECIALLY COST-WISE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY SHOULD BE DOING THEIR HOMEWORK AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THE PRODUCT'S RIGHT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S GOING TO LAST. SPRIGHTLY VIOLIN MUSIC IN TAIHARURU BAY, STEVE AND WENDY HAVE MADE SOME BREAKTHROUGHS. STEVE'S RETURNED FROM AMERICA, WHERE HE SPENT $140,000 ON A CONSIGNMENT OF STEEL. THAT WAS AFTER THE FIRST DAY. HE AND WENDY LIKE THE RUSTY ORANGE OF COR-10 STEEL BUT BELIEVE UNCOATED, IT WOULD CORRODE QUICKLY SO CLOSE TO THE SEA, SO HE WENT TO VIEW FIRST-HAND HOW HIS ALTERNATIVE STEEL LOOKED AS IT WAS CHEMICALLY RUSTED WHEN` OH, THERE'S DAY 22, SO IT'S CLOSE TO RUNNING LEFT. WHEN IT GOES ON, IT'LL LOOK LIKE THAT. DEFINITELY QUITE DIFFERENT TO COR-10, THOUGH, ISN'T IT? YEAH, IT LOOKS ALMOST LIKE A THICKER RUST AS OPPOSED TO` WELL, THE COR-10'S QUITE A THIN, EVEN RUST. YEAH, I DUNNO IF THAT'S JUST... JUST THE SHOT? JUST THE SHOT OR PART OF THE PROCESS. IT'S TOO LATE NOW FOR ANY DOUBTS. THE HOUSE IS BEING CLOSED IN, AND THE STEEL IS ALREADY ON ITS WAY ACROSS THE OCEAN. 155 SETS OF IT OR SOMETHING. THERE'S TWO SPARES. (CHUCKLES) SO I HOPE YOU GOT YOUR NUMBERS RIGHT. AS THE INTERIOR PLYWOOD ARRIVES ON SITE, STEVE'S MADE A CALL ON THE EXTERIOR PLYWOOD DILEMMA. KEN WANTED TO PUT THIS PARKLEX PRODUCT ON IT, WHICH IS KIND OF AN AUTOCLAVED, IMPREGNATED PLYWOOD, BASICALLY, AND, UM, PROBLEM IS, IT'S, LIKE, UM, 10 TIMES THE PRICE OR SOMETHING. HE'S GONE BACK TO THE PLAN TO USE THE CHEAPER HOOP PINE AND ACCEPT THE EXTRA MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, DELAYS IN DECISION-MAKING HAVE CREATED NEW OBSTACLES FOR THE BUILDERS. WE ARE HAVING A BIT OF TROUBLE WITH THE EXTERIOR PLYWOOD. IT'S UM` WE TOOK A WHILE TO GET TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE EXACT PRODUCT THAT WE'RE USING, AND NOW THAT WE'VE CHOSEN IT, WE LEFT IT, SORT OF, TO THE LAST MINUTE TO ORDER IT, TO GET IT HERE ON TIME. IDEALLY, WE FINISH THE OUTSIDE AND THEN DO THE INSIDE, BUT WE'RE MIXING IT UP A LITTLE BIT, DOING IT A BIT BACK-TO-FRONT, BUT WE'LL COPE. YEAH, WE'LL GET THERE. THE INTERIOR PLY IS BEING MOUNTED ON BLACK BATTENS, CREATING A PATTERN OF NEGATIVE DETAILING THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. TO KEEP THE BUILDERS ON THEIR TOES, THE PATTERN WILL BE MIRRORED WITH EXACTLY THE SAME SIZED PANELS OF STEEL ON THE OUTSIDE. THE PLYWOOD ITSELF IS DIMENSIONALLY THE SAME AS THE STEEL PANELS. SO ALL THESE NEGATIVE DETAILS ALL LINE UP WITH THE MODULAR SYSTEM ON THE OUTSIDE. SO IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE TRICKLY, INITIALLY, WITH THIS SET-UP, TO GET THESE ALL LINING UP. AS WE SEE THE STEEL GO ON, THEN WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SEE WHETHER WE GOT IT RIGHT OR NOT. THUNDER RUMBLES, RAIN PATTERS NINE MONTHS INTO STEVE AND WENDY'S BUILD, THE HOUSE IS LIKE A GIFT ABOUT TO BE UNWRAPPED. OH, GOOD THING THAT TENT'S STILL UP. YEAH, GEEZ. (LAUGHS) IT IS. THE WINTERLESS NORTH, EH (?) YEAH. (LAUGHS) IT'S REALLY STARTING TO LOOK QUITE SCULPTURAL, ISN'T IT? SO, ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IT, FINALLY, AFTER` IS IT` IT MUST BE FIVE OR SIX MONTHS NOW. YEAH, YEAH. I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TENT COMING OFF, YEAH. SO, ANY INTEREST FROM THE NEIGHBOURS? WELL, (LAUGHS) WE'VE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE COME THROUGH. IT'S JUST` WE FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD CHARGE PEOPLE. SHOULD BE SETTING UP A TOUR COMPANY, YOU KNOW? YEAH. NO, IT'S` IT'S` THE LOCALS ARE REALLY EXCITED TOO, I THINK. YEAH. NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOURS` I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE FEEDBACK. YEAH. YEAH. SO THEY'RE EITHER REALLY POLITE... BOTH LAUGH ...OR THEY REALLY LIKE IT. CRAZY SCULPTURE WILL FINALLY BE REVEALED. IT'S NOT TOO CRAZY, IS IT? UNDER THE PLASTIC, THE BUILDERS ARE APPLYING A WATERPROOF BITUMEN MEMBRANE WHICH WILL SEAL THIS WORK OF ARCHITECTURE AGAINST THE ELEMENTS. AND TODAY, KEN IS CHECKING PROGRESS. IT LOOKS ROUGH AND RUGGED AND ROBUST WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH WHAT IS REQUIRED ON A SITE LIKE THIS. SHE'S A PRETTY RUGGED ENVIRONMENT, ISN'T IT? YOU SEE THAT TODAY. SHE'S PRETTY ROUGH WEATHER OUT THERE, AND I'VE SEEN SOME STORMS COME IN HERE ` YOU KNOW, ENORMOUS WAVES, YEAH. SO WE NEEDED A CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS GONNA COPE WITH THIS SORT OF ENVIRONMENT. IT COULD BE ARGUED, COULDN'T IT, THAT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THE PANELS ON THE ROOF, DO YOU? THIS JUST MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE BULLETPROOF BECAUSE THE RAIN SCREEN KEEPS THE SUN OFF, KEEPS THE MAJORITY OF THE RAIN OFF. SO, UM, STRICTLY YOU COULD, BUT IN TERMS OF THE LONGEVITY OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM, AND THE ROBUSTNESS OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM, YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED IT. RIGHT. PEOPLE THINK ARCHITECTS LIKE US, WE'RE JUST HERE TO MAKE THINGS LOOK PRETTY, AREN'T WE? SURELY NOT. (LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) IT'S GONNA BE EXQUISITELY BEAUTIFUL, THIS ROOF, ISN'T IT? IT IS. I MEAN, THE WHOLE BUILDING, HOPEFULLY, IS GONNA BE A LITTLE GEM. UM, THE SKIN ` INCREDIBLY PRACTICAL COS IT'S THIS RAIN SCREEN, BUT BEAUTIFUL AS WELL. THE SKIN IS THE RUSTY STEEL PANELS, AND WE'RE ALL CURIOUS TO SEE THE NEW PRODUCT STEVE'S IMPORTED FOR HIS HOUSE. HERE WE GO, HERE. STEVE AND WENDY ORIGINALLY WANTED COR-10 STEEL, WHICH TURNS A RICH ORANGE COLOUR. COOL. THERE YOU GO. OH! THERE SHE GOES. IT'S ON ITS WAY. THIS PRE-RUSTED STEEL LOOKS, WELL, BROWN. IN A WAY, IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU WERE ORIGINALLY IMAGINING, ISN'T IT? I MEAN, IT'S NOT THAT KIND OF ORANGE-Y, REDDY RUST COLOUR, IS IT? YEAH. NOW IT IS, BUT IT'LL GET THERE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE SOME GOOD REDDINESS IN THE MIDDLE THERE. HM. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS, AT THE END OF THE DAY. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, VERY VERY EARLY DAYS. IT WILL CERTAINLY END UP THAT RUSTY STEEL. MM. WHAT'S THAT GONNA BE? ONE YEAR? FIVE YEARS? 10 YEARS? 50? THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE FOUR YEARS BEFORE IT REALLY SORT OF, YOU KNOW,... TAKES ON THAT ORANGE-Y, REDDY COLOUR? I THINK WE'LL SURPRISE OURSELVES. I THINK IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, QUITE UNIFORM, PROBABLY IN SIX MOTHS. I JUST THINK IT'S GONNA BE REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH IT DEVELOP. HOUSE'LL KIND OF MORPH AROUND IT. EXCITING. RIGHT. FOUR YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT BEFORE WE KNOW IF STEVE'S EXPERIMENT WORKS. AS AN ARCHITECT, YOU WANT TO BE ON TOP OF WHAT THE MATERIALS ARE, HOW THEY'RE GONNA PERFORM IN THE SITUATION THEY'RE IN. WHEN AN OWNER, INTERFERES,... LAUGHTER ...THEN, IN A WAY, YOU'RE TAKING ON BOARD THAT RISK DIRECTLY, AREN'T YOU? YEAH. IT'S ALL A PART OF BEING ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE REST IN SOME WAYS. UNLESS YOU KEEP GOING FORWARD, YOU DON'T REALLY GO ANYWHERE, SO... I MEAN, I THINK THESE GUYS ARE GREAT. THEY DID THEIR RESEARCH, TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER. WE'VE GOT A MATERIAL THAT'S GONNA EVENTUALLY LOOK THE WAY WE WANT IT AND A MATERIAL THAT'S GONNA LAST, AND THAT'S` THAT'S ALL WE WANT. NOW THE STEEL HAS ARRIVED, THE WATERPROOF TENT IS BEING REMOVED, READY FOR ITS INSTALLATION. HEY, OLLIE. CHRIS, HOW ARE YA? BOY, SHE'S LOOKING GOOD. YEAH, COOL, HUH? NICE TO GET THE WRAPPED OFF, EH? YEAH, YEAH, IT IS LIKE UNWRAPPING A PRESENT. LIKE, IT'S JUST THIS BIG, YOU KNOW, EXPECTATION AND, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE IT IN PLANS AND COMPUTERS AND LOOKS COOL, BUT THEN YOU SEE IT IN LIFE, AND IT LOOKS EVEN COOLER AGAIN, YOU KNOW? OBVIOUSLY, THE NEXT BIG MOVE IS GETTING YOUR PANELS ON THE ROOF, ISN'T IT? YEAH. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE, AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME FOCUSING ON THE MODULES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO IT'S GONNA BE GOOD. THE STEEL IS BEING CUT OFF-SITE, BUT AT $900 A SHEET, STEVE HASN'T SPLURGED ON CONTINGENCY STEEL. SO, IN TERMS OF ALL THE PANELS, IS EVERYTHING PERFECTLY CUT TO FIT, AND HAVE YOU GOT ENOUGH? UM, IT'S REALLY TIGHT. BIT OF A DRAMA IF YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE STATES TO GET SOME MORE. I WON'T ENJOY THAT PHONE CALL TO STEVE IF IT EVENTUATES. AS LONG AS EVERYONE'S CAREFUL, MEASURES TWICE, THREE TIMES, CUT ONCE. FIVE TIMES. (LAUGHS) FIVE TIMES, CUT ONCE. (LAUGHS) WE SHOULD BE OK. EASY-GOING GUITAR MUSIC WITH ALL THE BUILDING MATERIALS NOW FINALLY ON SITE, THE HOUSE IS CLOSE TO BEING FINISHED. BUT I SUSPECT THERE'S NO WAY IT WILL BE READY FOR CHRISTMAS IN FOUR WEEKS' TIME. TODAY, THE MAIN CONCERN IS HOW WE DO THIS SAFELY. ULTIMATELY, THEY'RE 75-KILO SLIDING GUILLOTINES. BIG DAY FOR THE LIFTERS. 74 KILOS A SHEET. THAT SAID, LOOK HOW SOLID THEY ARE. PUTTING UP THE STEEL IS THE ULTIMATE TEST FOR OLLIE AND HIS TEAMS BUILDING PROWESS. OK, NICE AND SLOW, GUYS, TAKE IT SLOW. HANG ON, I JUST NEED TO... EVERY PART OF THIS BUILD PROCESS HAS BEEN CAREFULLY CALCULATED TO MATCH THE SIZE OF THESE STEEL PANELS. SEE THAT LINE? THAT WANTS TO BE 150 IN FROM THE EDGE OF THE COR-10. THERE'S A LINE SCRATCHED IN. IF THEY DON'T FIT NOW, THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE FOUNDATIONS OR THE STEEL FRAMING, AND THERE'S NO EASY FIX. SO WE'RE ALL WORKING INSIDE TO OUTSIDE WITH THIS BUILD SYSTEM. THE ACCURACY OF THOSE BASE PLATES, YOU KNOW, ON DAY ONE SORT OF DETERMINED HOW THESE SHEETS ARE GONNA FIT SO THESE SHEETS MATCH THE PLYWOOD INSIDE ` HOPEFULLY. STEVE AND WENDY'S RADICAL HOME ON THE DUNES IS TESTING THE SKILLS OF EVERYONE INVOLVED. I` YEAH, I FINALLY HAD TO ADMIT TO MYSELF THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE CHRISTMAS, AND IT'S, UH` IT'S BEEN A BIT HARD. I'M PRETTY STUBBORN. LIKE TO` LIKE TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS THAT WE GET TO, BUT THERE'S BEEN A FAIR FEW THINGS OUT OF HAND THAT I KEEP TRYING TO REMIND MYSELF OF. (LAUGHS) THEY'RE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND MODERN BUILDING PRODUCTS, AND ONLY A LONG TIME WILL TELL WHAT THE RESULT WILL BE AND HOW THIS BOLD HOME WILL SIT IN ITS QUIET SEASIDE COMMUNITY. WHIMSICAL, TINKLING MUSIC WHEN STEVE AND WENDY DECIDED TO BUILD A NEW HOME IN NORTHLAND, THEY WANTED TO EVOKE THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND CREATE A HOME THAT WAS RUSTY AND SHANTY-LIKE. IT ALMOST SEEMED TO ME THAT WHAT THEY WANTED WAS A CONTRADICTION ` A HIGH-END DESIGN THAT ALMOST BELIES ITS OWN EXTRAVAGANCE. A STUNNING HOME THAT NOBODY WOULD REALLY NOTICE. I WONDER HOW THEY'VE GOT ON? WHIMSICAL, TINKLING MUSIC BUILDS WOW. LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE PULLED IT OFF. HEY, GUYS. HELLO! HOW ARE YOU, MATE? ALL RIGHT? IT'S BEEN A WHILE. HOW ARE YOU? GOSH. YOU MUST BE RAPT. YEP. IT'S GREAT. THE RUSTING STEEL LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. IT'S ACTUALLY A LOT MORE BRONZE-Y THAN I EXPECTED. YEAH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET UP ON TOP OF THE HILL THERE, YOU SORT OF SEE THE WHOLE ROOF AND EVERYTHING. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT COLOURS, DIFFERENT TEXTURES. IT'S GOT THIS REAL ORGANIC FEEL ABOUT IT. IT'S AMAZING. IT'S ALMOST KIND OF A LIVING THING, YOU KNOW? IT'S AMAZING. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING I'M REALLY ENJOYING ABOUT IT IS THIS AMAZING ATTENTION TO DETAIL, THIS AMAZING PRECISION. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IT FEELS VERY HOMELY. YEAH, IT'S GREAT. VERY BACHY. ABSOLUTELY. COME IN AND HAVE A LOOK. YEAH, I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE A LOOK! OH MY GOODNESS. THIS IS FANTASTIC! IT REALLY FEELS LIKE YOU'RE LIVING IN THE BEACH. YEP. MAGNIFICENT. I'M JUST LOOKING AROUND NOW. I'M KIND OF TAKING IN THE BEAUTY OF THE DETAILING. I MEAN, THE PLYWOOD IS EXTRAORDINARY, AND THESE BEAUTIFUL NEGATIVE DETAILS, INCLUDING YOUR VERY ELEGANT LIGHTS. IT'S REALLY COME TOGETHER WELL. AND THE WAY THAT ALL OF THIS CONNECTS IN WITH YOUR KITCHEN I THINK IS MAGNIFICENT. EVERYTHING IS VERY ELEGANTLY AND SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATED WITH THE KITCHEN JOINERY. NO DETAILS ANYWHERE, NO HANDLES. NO HANDLES. IT'S VERY ELEGANT. ONE OF MY REQUIREMENTS WAS THAT I COULD STAND AT THE KITCHEN BENCH AND LOOK OUT TO SEA. IN THE BACH, OUR BENCH FACED THAT WAY, AND IT ALWAYS ANNOYED ME. SO THIS, FOR ME, IS JUST... SHE HAD TO LOOK AT ME CLADDING FISH. YEAH. (LAUGHS) BOY, YOU DON'T GET MANY TEPPENYAKI HOTPLATES IN YOUR AVERAGE KIWI KITCHEN. I KNOW. I KNOW. MY GOODNESS. AN ESSENTIAL. GOTTA HAVE ONE. IF YOU WANT A BIT OF FRIED EGG ON YOUR FACE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ARRANGE THAT. OH, I'M WAITING FOR IT. (LAUGHS) SO, TELL ME A BIT ABOUT THIS RATHER INTRIGUING TABLE. HAS THIS BEEN ESPECIALLY DESIGNED AND MADE FOR THE HOUSE? IT WAS, YES. I'M SURPRISED YOU DON'T RECOGNISE ITS DIMENSIONS. THIS IS A TABLE-TENNIS TABLE. WHAT?! IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME DIMENSIONS. SO YOU GUYS TAKE TABLE TENNIS EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY? NOT REALLY. NO, WE DON'T. WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT VERY GOOD AT IT! BUT IT'S COME TO THE KITCHEN! NEGATIVE DETAILING AND HOOP PINE CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR WALLS OF THE HOUSE. EACH PANEL HAS A UNIQUE PATTERN, WHICH, LIKE THE WEATHERING STEEL, GIVES A RICH TEXTURE TO THIS TIGHTLY DESIGNED HOME. CARBON FIBRE HANDRAIL, CHRIS. EVERY HOUSE HAS GOTTA HAVE ONE. YEP. (LAUGHS) VERY NICE TOUCH. OH, WHAT A LOVELY SPACE! GOSH, THIS HAS COME UP WELL. THE FAMOUS WINDOW. YEAH. THE FAMOUS WINDOW. SO, WHAT DID YOU CHANGE? IT GOT BIGGER. KEN WANTED TO JUST FRAME THAT LITTLE SPOT THERE, BUT WE WANTED TO FRAME A BIT MORE OF IT. (LAUGHS) A BIT WIDER. IT'S GOT A VERY CAPTAIN'S-BRIDGE FEEL TO IT. (SIGHS) OH, IT'S MAGIC. MM. I GET A SENSE THAT YOU GUYS ARE VERY HAPPY HERE. WE ARE. REALLY REALLY HAPPY. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS WITH YOUR KIDS, BUT MAINLY IN SUMMER HOLIDAYS. SO WHAT'S IT LIKE TO ACTUALLY MOVE IN? OUR ORIGINAL IDEA WAS TO BE UP HERE FOUR DAYS A WEEK, BUT IT'S TURNING INTO FULL-TIME. JUST FEELS WONDERFUL BEING UP HERE. AND I ACTUALLY FIND IT A LOT EASIER TO WORK FROM HERE THAN I DO WHEN I'M IN THE OFFICE. THE THING THAT HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY RATTLING AWAY IN THE BACK OF MY MIND IS THIS CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THE IDEA OF SHANTINESS AND THIS VERY PRECISELY EXECUTED PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE. YET IT'S ALMOST THERE. I KIND OF THINK FOR SUCH A NEW BUILDING, IT'S SITTING SO HAPPILY IN THE LANDSCAPES. IT'S KIND OF LIKE ORGANISED CHAOS, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. THE BUILDING'S INCREDIBLY PRECISE, YET THE ANGLES ARE ALL OFFSET, WHICH GIVES IT THIS, KIND OF, CHAOS, IF YOU LIKE. YOU WERE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE IN THE SUPPORT TEAM THAT YOU HAD. HINDSIGHT'S A WONDERFUL THING. I GUESS IF I HAD HAVE KNOWN THAT IT WAS GONNA BE THAT COMPLICATED TO BUILD THE PLACE, I'M` I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN TO DO IT THIS WAY. I MEAN, YOU WERE ONTO IT EARLY ON WHEN YOU SAID, JEEZ, I BETTER GET THIS LAYOUT RIGHT AND THE FRAMING RIGHT, AND I THOUGHT, WELL, IT'S NOT THAT HARD. WHEN YOU SEE THE NEGATIVES IN THE STEEL MATCH THE NEGATIVES IN THE PLYWOOD ON THE INSIDE, THERE'S ONLY A FEW PLACES IN THE HOUSE YOU CAN ACTUALLY SPOT IT. BUT IT'S PRETTY COOL WHEN YOU SEE THAT LINE GO ALL THE WAY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING TO THE OTHER. AT THE BEGINNING, YOU SAID TO ME THAT YOU REALLY REALLY WANTED A LOW-MAINTENANCE HOUSE. DID YOU GET IT? I THINK WE DID. YEAH. YEAH, FOR SURE. I MEAN, YOU'VE GOTTA WASH IT, BASICALLY. HOSING IT DOWN EVERY NOW AND AGAIN IS IMPORTANT, BUT, YOU KNOW. YEAH. THERE'S CERTAINLY GONNA BE NO PAINTING. (CHUCKLES) AND EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE TO OIL THE PLYWOOD ON THE OUTSIDE. MM. STILL GOTTA MOW THE GRASS. YES. STILL GOTTA MOW THE GRASS, SO... YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING TO DO OUT HERE, DON'T YOU? (LAUGHS) TELL ME, HOW CLOSE DID YOU MANAGE TO GET TO 1.6 IN THE END? 10% OR 15%. OVER OR UNDER? OVER. OVER? YOU EVER SEEN A BUILDING THAT'S BEEN UNDER? (LAUGHS) YEAH, PRETTY GOOD, I THINK. THE LOCALS, WHAT DO THEY THINK? OH, I THINK THEY LOVE IT. WE` YEAH, WE'VE HAD` AT LEAST, THAT'S WHAT THEY TELL US. WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN REALLY THRILLED. THE THINK IT'S AWESOME. THEY REALLY LOVE IT. SO THEY'RE HAPPY? YOU'RE ALLOWED TO STAY? WE'VE PASSED THE TEST, YEAH. (LAUGHS) WE'VE PASSED THE TEST. STEVE AND WENDY'S HOME IS A COMPLEX ARCHITECTURAL DREAM REALISED, YET THE WEATHERED STEEL AND THE OFFSET ANGLES GIVE IT A CHARMING INFORMALITY,... BRIGHT CHATTER ...ALMOST AS IF IT WAS SHAMBLING ITS WAY DOWN TO THE BEACH. SO, ANY DOUBTERS? THEY'RE NOT GONNA SAY IT WHILE YOU'RE HERE. LAUGHTER I WAS SCEPTICAL AT THE BEGINNING, JUST LOOKING AT THE DRAWING, BUT I'M SUPER IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY IT'S ENDED UP. IT'S AMAZING. CONGRATULATIONS TO STEVE AND WENDY ON A JOB WELL DONE! YEAH, IT'S WONDERFUL. CHEERS, CHRIS. THANKS VERY MUCH. ALL: CHEERS! CHEERS, EVERYONE. THERE WAS ALWAYS THE DANGER OF THIS HOME THAT IT COULD ACHIEVE CRITICAL ACCLAIM YET FAIL TO TUNE IN TO ITS ENVIRONMENT. AND I'M SURPRISED HOW MUCH IT DOES FIT IN. BUT I'M EVEN MORE SURPRISED BY HOW MUCH IT'S TRANSFORMED STEVE AND WENDY. CHATTER, WOMAN CHEERS OH, YES! NEARLY THROUGH THE WINDOW. CAPTIONS BY INGRID LAUDER AND ALANA DRAYTON. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016