Matakana: Lord of the forest

A sense of warmth and a divine natural setting prevail at Matakana Valley Retreat. By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

Named after a giant puriri tree, Shambala (Lord of the Forest) exudes a certain type of magic not often experienced.

A strong eastern influence combines majestically with the picturesque surrounds, successfully blending nature with architecture.

A family affair, the 17ha property has a fascinating history. The land was bought in 1994 by Calbindar Basi, who owned with her sister Baldindar one of the first Indian restaurants in Ponsonby Rd.

The first stage of Shambala was built in 1996 by architect Andrew Dallow, who is married to Baldindar. After choosing to move out of Auckland to Matakana, it was decided to extend the home in 1999.

The 310sq m home is an adobe earth structure. Says Dallow: "Eco-friendly materials have been used throughout the building, with attention to hand-crafted quality and architectural detail."

The earth (clay) has been selected for the rich earthy colours within the aggregate giving the sense of warmth and security within the home, he says.

"This building and environment are all about being within nature. The one-foot thick earth walls with thermal mass ensure solar gains in winter and coolness during the heat of summer. The roof is wool insulated and walls insulated with recycled paper," he says.

The two-level home features four large double bedrooms, two lounges, two bathrooms, open-plan kitchen and dining, a generous laundry and storage room.

A sense of arrival is immediately evident with a capacious entrance. This spaciousness is continued through the home with lofty ceiling heights at every turn.

Macrocarpa, with its rich warm tones and texture, is another strong player, complemented by brass fittings.

On the lower level, the lounge, kitchen and dining area - the perfect backdrop for the Indian-inspired rugs and artwork - boasts an open fireplace as the focus with a raised granite hearth.

"The solid poured earth platform with seating integrates with the hearth and provides convenient storage for firewood," says Dallow.

Large french doors open the lounge to a terrace, which overlooks native trees and landscaped gardens.

The hand-crafted kitchen features stainless-steel appliances and an imported Stanley wood stove, while grounding the area, granite benchtops have been shaped and polished with a hand-crafted pitch-edge detail.

Also on this level are a main bathroom with spa bath and views to a private garden, a fourth bedroom, office or guest room, an exceptionally large laundry with loads of storage and a separate storage room that can be used as a larger pantry.

Plenty of space is afforded upstairs as well with a second lounge opening through the same oversized doors to a deck, three double bedrooms and a main bathroom. All the bedrooms open to their own private decks with spectacular views.

Opening to large decks and entertaining areas, the house has been designed with a focus on excellent indoor-outdoor flow, says Dallow.

"When it comes to gardens, pictures can say more than words ... but to really appreciate it all, you will need to visit and see for yourself."

A fruit orchard includes a fig tree, apple trees, banana plants, sugar cane and more. And, says Dallow, the soil is very good for a vegetable garden, too.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Matakana Valley Rd, Matakana.

FEATURES: Adobe-style, two-level, four-bedroom home crafted from eco-friendly materials in stunning native bush; separate lounge; formal lounge; open-plan kitchen and dining; two bathrooms; large decks.

SIZE: Land area 16.5ha; floor area 310sq m.

PRICE: $1.8 million plus.

AGENTS: Jeneen Binsted and Margaret Olsen, Harcourts, Warkworth. Ph 09 425 7889 bus; Jeneen 021 367 107 mob; Margaret 0274 787 132 mob.