Feature article
Five million views later, the Kiwi Earthship that stunned Grand Designs is up for sale
The Coromandel’s famous Earthship, featured on Grand Designs NZ, is on the market for the first time.
AI summary
The famous Coromandel Earthship Te Timatanga, featured on Grand Designs NZ, is for sale. This unique four-bedroom home is a fully permitted, sustainable "living system" built from natural and recycled materials.
Designed for off-grid living, it boasts minimal power bills and a passive solar design. A key feature is the long conservatory, which allows for year-round growing of tropical fruits like bananas and pineapples. This is a rare opportunity to own an iconic, healthy home.
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Flashback: This was the reveal on Grand Designs NZ in 2015. Gus Anning and Sarah Rowe are pictured in the house with former Grand Designs NZ presenter Chris Moller. Photo: Screenshot
The Earthship has four bedrooms, but is just one room deep, with a long conservatory-style corridor on the north side, featuring plants. The couple sell surplus energy from their solar panels to the national grid. Photo: Pete May
The couple say the plants finish photosynthesising overnight, but they have never had condensation dripping on the windows. Photo: Pete May
Decorative features include the bottle windows, which also help with insulation. Photo: Pete May
Rowe and Anning say the country lifestyle has proved to be a magical place to bring up the children. Photo: Pete May
Natural materials feature throughout the house. Photo: Pete May
Timber surfaces complement the earth brick walls. Photo: Pete May
All the rooms open to the conservatory. Photo: Pete May
There are numerous natural swimming pools within reach, including some within walking distance of the hoouse. Photo: Pete May
The house hunkers down into the landscape - the rear wall of earth-filled tyres acts as a double insulator. Photo: Pete May
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