If you’re dreaming about an island project, looking at sites or even have something on the drawing board, contact us and we’re happy to share our knowledge, tips & tricks of building on the island.
Designing and building on Waiheke requires knowledge: an understanding of local building regulations and quirks; an ability to manage logistics, labour and local or off-island trades. Not to mention dealing with sloping sites.
It also requires experience to know how to get things done in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
Have you been searching for experienced architect builders near you on Waiheke Island? Look no further. Whether it’s a sloping site or a complex design, we have the expertise to do the job right. If you’re planning a new build, contact the team at Box™.
For over 15 years, our Waiheke architect builders have designed and built amazing houses on the island.
We have a special attachment to the island, with our own family living there, some of our build team, and now nearly 30 resident and non-resident customers.
New builds on Waiheke Island present a unique set of challenges – and that’s where our team of island experts comes in.
Aah the island life! Waiheke that is. Sugar-sand beaches, cracker little coves, top-drawer restaurants and vineyards, all within an easy commute of Auckland. Sounds idyllic – and it is – until you have the bright idea to build there. That’s when the exquisite complexities of island life kick in. Gathering a committed crew, the logistics of material supply, the impact of extra travel on productivity, the challenges of site access…the list is daunting.
At Box™ we’re approaching our 30th completed project on this glittering jewel of the Hauraki Gulf and these dwellings spiderweb all the way across from Sandy Bay to Cowes Bay. Our first house was designed for two semi-retired art collectors – a classic U-shaped plan embracing a sheltered central courtyard and a gallery-like corridor connecting the rooms on the south elevation for their art. Then there was the house that was shaped around a magnificent pōhutukawa and featured a scenic walkway strung along the clifftop like a wooden necklace. And there was the time we barged in three prefabricated pods from our factory in Greenhithe, lifting them on to site with an incredible crane (our hearts in our mouths as they dangled above the bush) – before joining them together with decking: platforms to a view.
Safe to say, each project is unique and, given our 15 years’ experience working on Waiheke, we know better than to be prescriptive. Each site presents a fresh set of architectural adventures. Impossible access, steep driveways and vertiginous drops where the natural building site should be (makes it better to grab those grandstand vistas though) are just a few that spring to mind. One common theme: making the best of the natural geographical attributes is what we’re committed to, even if it does mean we need to factor in wastewater systems and get the herpetology report (long live the lizards) before the first spade hits the ground.
Building on Waiheke is complex, and it can be maddening. Which is exactly what makes it so satisfying. And, because we have an integrated design-and-build team accustomed to working on these remote sites, it makes life easier for our clients. We’ve been here before.
We’d love to hear from you. Our experienced project manager and local architect-builder team understand the importance of being involved in your project from the beginning. Let’s make your Waiheke Island house a reality. Message us today—we can’t wait to help you create a space that you’ll love coming home to.
You should receive an email in your inbox shortly.
