Hilltop Hideaway

Daven Homes

Located in rural Morrinsville, the new Goatlands renovation by Daven Homes is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Featuring cedar sarking ceilings and a mixture of old and new Tawa flooring, half of the original homestead had to be demolished to make way for this brand new addition.

This is DavenHomes’ fourth house for their clients, and a small team spent 18 months and many lockdown restrictions carrying out this major addition to the existing farmhouse.

Built on timber piles, it was quite a job rebuilding the kitchen and lounge above a steep slope, and everything had to be engineered and soil tested to ensure the ground below was earthquake proof. 

An extra wing has also been added on, and the entire second storey consists of the couple’s bedroom, ensuite and office.

A guest wing downstairs is all self-contained, and a lift from Sweden has been installed for the later years.

Project manager Jason Adams said that it was a job in itself, fitting the internal lift. Built in behind the staircase surround by two walls, the lift also features a glass panel and door so you can look outside and see the view ( of the Kaimai Ranges)

Huge floor to ceiling windows complete the look, and everything about this house is built on a grand scale.

Another special design feature of the house was the cedar soffits which perfectly match the ceiling outside on the balconies.

Owner-operator Warren Davenport said the massive steel and concrete pad footing for the fireplace was also a talking point.

Spanning three stories high and built using concrete blocks which were then plastered, to look like individual bricks, each one was created by hand.

This was done to achieve the same visual effect as the rest of the exterior and to match the original size brick.

Warren said the wooden exterior vertical boardings and the cedar tongue and groove sarking ceilings with the negative detail was quite a bit of work, along with matching all of the new Tawa flooring to the original.

“The floor and ceilings were an amazing thing, we just don’t get to do much of that work these days,”  he said.

Finding enough people to handle carrying and installing all of the large windows and door frames in the property was a huge task for the team as well. 

Outside the house, upper hardwood decking features on two levels, and the elaborate lighting system around the landscaped garden is an ongoing project for the owners.

The retaining wall around the property and the entrance way feature an assortment of schist and rocks from all over New Zealand, including Puriri and Hokitika.

Glenn O’Connell of Graphite Architects said the clients were very open to his design ideas and were very courageous to embrace the bold concept.

He said they certainly wanted something unique and different, and this was precisely what was delivered.

A big part of the design was capitalising on the rural views and capturing the sun to the north, while also using as many natural materials as possible. 

“The practicalities of the spaces speak for themselves.”

Glenn said what he really loves about the new house are the north-facing decks which totally expands the living spaces.

Warren and Sandra Davenport are a couple that have built many beautiful rural houses in the area, and are often invited back to enjoy them when they are complete. 

Warren started building at a young age and went into business at just 21. He and Sandra started their joint partnership company in 1984, but then it became a limited company in 1996.

First specialising in renovation and alterations work, the business grew quickly, which brought him to focus on catering for all building needs.

At Daven Homes we share over 30 years’ experience, with five qualified builders and two apprentices. We are a longstanding member of the Certified Builders Association of NZ and are licensed building practitioners.

We can provide complete solutions to your residential or renovation needs. From simple insurance repair work to larger projects like new homes – we take care of everything in Morrinsville and the greater Waikato.

If you are undertaking a building project, you need a team with the experience, confidence and skills to take on the job and finish it in a professional manner. 

DavenHomes are trusted builders in Waikato and Morrinsville since 1996, and we are excited to help you tackle your next project.

Project Partners

Joinery

Flooring

Tiling

J Davies Tiling

Audiovisual Features

Build Materials

Bricklaying

Brill Bricklaying

Plumbing & Drainlaying

Interior Design

Landscaping

Wild Exposure

Spouting & Fascia

Scaffolding

Concrete

Valid Concrete Pumping