The first concept plans!

Today we met with the builder and architect on site to take a look at the first concept plans they have come up with. Posted here are three drawings from these concepts. Overall we are really pleased with the concept. They clearly listened to us when we described what we wanted and they have done a good first attempt. Now it's our turn to attack the drawings and make some suggestions of our own :-)

This first image shows the East elevation. This is the side that faces the gate as you enter the property, so looking at the top photo of the site in the first post, this is roughly what the view would look like. You can also see the slope of the property on this elevation.

This one is the South elevation. This is the side of the house that would look out over the valley. The second photo in the first post looks up to where this aspect of the house would be visible.

Finally, here's the plan. This shows all of the rooms except the garage level. There are two garages with an entryway between them. The entryway leads up a staircase to the main living area and behind it is a laundry room.

So - what are your thoughts???

The building site

Well, it may be tough to visualize - but below is the topographical survey of the overall building site. This just shows how contoured the land actually is that we want to build on!

This survey was just commissioned so that the architect has a decent idea what he can work with.

Day Zero - before the build starts

We don't have plans drawn up yet, and we don't know what it's going to look like, but we have a pretty good idea where it will be! Today begins the blog that will give you a view into the building of our new home in the Te Miro hills of the Waikato.

The above shot gives an overview of what we think will be the building site from the entry gatepost (looking roughly West). If we end up being right, we will take regular update images from here. (If not, we'll adjust the angle and pretend this first one never happened).

This one is looking up the hill (toward the North) at the proposed building site.

And lastly, one looking down the hill (toward the South) from the top boundary. Our property extends pretty much all the way down to the bottom of the valley.