$22m mansion kind to environment

A $22 million Waiheke Island residential project. Photo / Supplied

A $22 million Waiheke Island residential project is nearing completion as an army of tradespeople prepare to finish the vast, high-tech, high-spec, environmentally friendly house.

Interests associated with businessman David Parkinson, formerly of Cartridge World in Britain, are behind the 1800sq m ridgetop home, 10 times the size of an average New Zealand house.

The mansion, with extensive balconies and dormer-style windows set into its pitched roof, has its own basement boutique winery.

Mr Parkinson owns three adjoining sites in Church Bay Rd, giving him a 25.8ha plot which QV lists as worth a conservative $9.1 million, flowing down to the water on one of the island's most pristine beaches.

He lives nearby at the luxury Puriri Valley house where Bordeaux grapes were planted in 2008 and the first vintage is expected in 2012. This property is for sale for $3.5 million.

Mr Parkinson says the new house is for his family.

Scaffolding will come down soon, landscaping is under way and the project is due to be finished around July.

The three-level house with an indoor pool is by Waiheke architectural designer Bryce Ardern. Mr Parkinson said its design was partly inspired by Kauri Cliffs, developed by US billionaire philanthropists Julian and the late Josie Robertson.

Mr Arden said the Church Bay project was extremely special. "Designed in an early New Zealand colonial style, the home will meet the highest standards of environmental sustainability.

"The bulk insulated concrete structure has been thermally engineered by room and designed to capture and store energy from natural sources. Features include a ground source heat pump, double-glazed timber joinery and overhangs for optimum seasonal temperature control," Mr Arden says on his Lite-House site.

"The living accommodation incorporates a self-contained guest suite and an indoor swimming pool while the winery will house fermentation tanks, laboratory, barrel room and visitors' tasting room."


Lite-House builds innovative places which exceed the standards for ecologically responsible building methods and technologies, he says.

His houses cut CO2 emissions, minimise energy needs, reduce and recycle waste, collect, conserve and recycle water and are oriented to respond to the climate and use the sun's energy.