STRAW IN THE RAW - Newsletter!
ISSUE #7 - Dec 2006
In this 'Bumper' Issue:
2006
- A Quick Summary
The year summarised...!
Ruatuna
- Our Straw Built Show Home
All the pictures,
press and new plan options
of Ruatuna - PLUS
A competition to WIN a FREE Overnight Stay
at Ruatuna!
Project News and Pics
Loads of pics and news from our design
and construction projects.
The Team !
Ani Tollemache (Our New Project
Enquiries Guru), and news from the team.
Spreading the Straw Built word
Home & trade show update
and press mentions
received.
2007 - Looking Forward
Open Days at Ruatuna, and an Outline
for the year ahead!
Please also feel free to view the 6 previous
issues of the newsletter (if maybe you've missed them :-)
If you are viewing
this newsletter for the first time, you may want to Subscribe
to this Newsletter, so as to receive future issues :-)
2006 - A Quick Summary!
Once again, it's been a REALLY busy year for us:
- 7 successful straw bale building consents achieved all around the North
Island.
- 8 Straw bale projects currently under construction
- Completed the construction of our Straw Bale Show Home
- Ruatuna. Well over 70 couples have stayed overnight and enjoyed the
chance to experience staying and sleeping in a straw built home!
- Introduced a new series of more standard
and cost-effective designs - based on our Show Home. There are already
4 projects that have commissioned designs using this
approach (see below).
- We've started what will be the largest straw bale
construction project in New Zealand. It will be well over 1000sqm
in size. Exciting !
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Ruantuna - Our Straw Built Show Home
February saw the completion of our Show Home - Ruatuna. As the Ruatuna
website explains:
" In a nutshell – Ruatuna is a
show-home with a difference!
It demonstrates straw bale building practices and cutting-edge design
and products, all in a modern timeless manner. And, it allows you the
luxury of experiencing its unique straw built-environment for more than
is the norm of a cursory saunter through a standard show home.
If you are interested in, or considering a Straw Built Home, you now have
the chance to stay
overnight at Ruatuna, and experience first-hand its special features,
benefits and style. All a fantastic opportunity to get
up close with our Straw Built version of the Kiwi Bach!
We believe this is all about letting people get familiar with potential
new purchases/products by actually trying them out first!
I mean you wouldn’t buy a new car without test-driving it –
would you? So why not a house too! "
Ruatuna - with deck overlooking the picturesque
Ohiwa Harbour.
Ruatuna floor plan. +- 120sqm with
3 car - carport.
View of interior - showing open plan layout. The bi-fold
doors can open/ close the bedroom to the living area.
Stained concrete floors and custom finished fireplace provide
a rustic counter-point to the modern, clean feel of Ruatuna.
View
more pics of Ruatuna >
We've had well over 70 couples come and stay overnight
in Ruatuna since it opened in Febraury this year. They have all thoroughly
enjoyed the chance to 'test-sleep' in a straw built home..... see some
of their comments below:
"Very Inspirational. Fantastic
Spot. Love the house, exceptional warmth & comfort. Will spread the
news..."
Phillip & Rosalie (Maketu)
"After 8 years of imagining what a straw built
home might be like, the reality is even better...."
Gaz & Glen
"Lovely warmth and light. A very comfortable
home. Inspirational..."
Harker & Deborah
"Great Experience. Couldnt wish for a better
opportunity to try before you buy. Gets you thinking outside the square..."
Ruth & Gav(Devonport)
"Magical. We found what we are looking for.
Now we can go the next step and put our plans into action..."
Bruce and Jo (Gisborne)
"Superb to see and live in a real straw bale
home....Thanks heaps... "
Janice & Robert (Auckland)
"The fire, the stars, the serenity - magic.
Staying here has confirmed our passion for straw bale. Now it will be
an absolute obsession !! (till we get one :-) We love the sense of space,
healthiness and the unquantifiable sense of rightness..."
Mike
& Jewellee
Read
more customer comments >
Springwise article - Oct 07 2006.
In October, we were lucky enough to receive some fantastic
publicity for Ruatuna, from Springwise (an internationally reknowned marketing
and entreprenurial newsletter)
The article outlines the concept behind Ruatuna -
"...... The concept enables consumers to make a
more
informed purchase decision based on what they know they like in a home,
rather than what they think they might like. There’s no doubt that
there is a lot of emotional stress involved when purchasing something
as major as a house and the try-before-you-buy idea seeks to lessen consumers'
pre-purchase tension.........."
Read
the entire article >
Article
in the Opotiki News.
As mentioned earlier in the Newsletter, we are now offering a design service
based on the Ruatuna floor plan and construction process.
This allows people considering a straw bale project, within an 'entry-level'
budget range (starting at +-$225k), the option of commissioning a more
cost-effective set of plans/ working drawings for their project.
We now have 4 projects, that have utlised this service to initiate their
straw built projects. One of which is due to start construction early
in 2007!
If you are excited or interested with the idea, please contact
Ani immediately, and more importantly -
make a booking to come and stay at Ruatuna. We look forward to hearing
from you, and showing you around Ruatuna!
"Ruatuna
- type" Project for Sarah & Aaron - Gisborne.
"Ruatuna
- type" Project for Trina & Scott - Hamilton.
"Ruatuna
- type" Project for Murray & Deanne - Invercargill.
"Ruatuna
- type" Project for Richard & Angela - Ohakune
WIN a FREE OVERNIGHT STAY at Ruatuna!
For those of you keen to experience Ruatuna's ambience and style - you
can!
Just email
us, and let us know why
"You want to Stay at Ruatuna!"
We'll select the best entry. It could be you!
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Project News and Pics
We're not going to take too much time describing our projects, as we feel
the pics below tell an interesting enough story! Suffice to say - there's
been a lot going on this year, and we've been very busy both on the design
and construction fronts!
Design concept for Peter & Maggie.
New Chateau Project for Pam & Roy. Fully consented
and ready to be built.
Design Project for Brian and Susan - Pikowai. Consent
processing in final stages. Construction planned for first
quarter of 2007.
Design Project for Philip & Leslie - affectionately
called
The Fantail - due to its unique roof shape and appearance :-)
3D visualisation of large design project for Paul &
Joy.
Setting out of Paul & Joy's projects gets underway.
A number of our design projects have been busy being built this year.
Some with Straw Built Homes full involvement and others with very little.
It's great to see the projects reaching fruition!
John and Barb's house -Hamilton. Nearing completion
Western Bedroom facade.
Custom concrete benchtops.
Landscape walls.
Pam & Roy's great little 2 bedroom Guest Cottage -
affectionatley known as the 'Barn'.
Pam and Roy currently offer overrnight accommodation in
their fantastic guest cottage. Please feel free to contact
us - to organise a stay if you are interested!
Outside
landscape/ feature walls and pergolas give a great character
to the project.
Pam & Roy's pretty smart kitchen!
Night shot of John and Holly's project up in the Coromandel.
Owner built with assistance from local builders - the project is nearing
completion.
Interior shot of Ross and Sarah's project in Hastings.
Finished photo of Joanna's project near Rotorua.
Kevin & Anne's completed project near Te Puke.
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The Team !
Our team at both at Sustainable Structures and Straw Built Homes - has
been evolving and growing.
It
was great to get the whole 'gang' together the other day to go fishing!
Fishing with the whole gang!
Leonard - with catch of the day... 7kg Snapper!
Stephan - with his fish... beginners luck :-)
Sam & Richard ..... ah.... can you feel the love :-)
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Spreading the Straw Built Word!
It's been another busy year, spreading the news about straw built homes.
This has involved tradeshows at : Mystery Creek, Napier, Whakatane,
Hamilton, and Ellerslie Flower Show. The questions we get asked over and
over again at the shows, are all documented in our Frequently
Asked Questions section on our website.
We still get a fair share of jokes about the Big Bad Wolf, and the 3 little
Pigs - although the number of references have decreased considerably over
the years .... Perhaps we're winning in our attempt to educate people
about straw built homes seriously fantastic benefits!
We do have
a standard retort though to when the
3 Little Pigs get mentioned!
DONT LET A LITTLE PIG BUILD YOUR HOUSE!
It's not the straw thats a problem - just shoddy workmanship :-)
Luckily we
have a very professional sister company - Straw
Built Homes - who build our homes.... and there are no little pigs
to be seen in the team!
Whakatane Homeshow Stand.
Ellerslie Flower Show Stand.
Ellerslie Flower Show - Exhibition Garden. Silver Winner.
Great landscaping features.
Erupting Mount 'Potato'... the kids loved this one!
We've also been lucky enough to get some great mentions in the press over
the course of the year.
These have included mentions in several local newspapers, Organic NZ magazine,
amongst others .....
Article in 'Straight Up' a publication that goes to all
building officials around the country. We received a fantastic review
of the project in Hamilton.
OrganicNZ Article.
Te Awamutu Courier Article - showcasing Pam & Roy's
project.
Finally, we'd like to congratulate all the winners of the 2 night's free
accommodation at Ruatuna. We look forward to seeing you here at Ruatuna.
These include:
Waikato Home Show - Rebekah, Samantha & Steven, Greg, Jenny and Toni
Ellerslie Flower Show - Dorothy, Wendy, Kerri, Jude, Mark
and Penelope
Napier Home Show - Jo Jo, Jodie, Jenny, Chanelle
Whakatane - Warwick, Adrian & Jodi
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2007 - Looking Forward to it!
We are starting the year, by hosting a series of open days at Ruatuna
(from the 1st to 14th of January) Ruatuna will be open between 10-12 in
the morning, and Ani - will be on hand to answer all your questions and
show you around.
We'd love the chance to see you - if you are in the vicinity of the Eastern
Bay around New Year!
To quickly summarise our plans for 2007:
- We are looking at fine-tuning our design process to provide an even
better level of service.
- We aim to be involved in at least 15 build projects (through Straw Built
Homes), and hire a full-time project manager to assist in this.
- We will continue to promote Ruatuna as a fantastic try-before-you-buy
opportunity.
- We aim to further develop the Ruatuna Series design approach as an entry
level option.
Ultimately we want to continue to have fun, and see as many Straw Built
Homes realised as possible.
Regards
The Sustainable Structures
& Straw Built Homes Team
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