Nestled into the bush-clad slopes of Titirangi in West Auckland and with glimpses of Auckland Harbour, David and Trisha Whittaker’s new home is packed with features that have fulfilled their wishes for eco-friendly living.

David and Trisha Whittaker didn’t have to go very far when it came to moving. They already owned the adjacent section, where Landmark Homes built their brand-new dream home. “It was wonderful being right next door and watching our new home being built. It was like being able to project manage the new development from 50 metres away. We felt as if we were in an episode of Grand Designs,” says David.

Even before they began building, the Whittakers had visualised their next move for some time. “We’d already developed where we wanted to position our new house on the north-facing slope and the least impact on nature without cutting down the trees,” he says.

One of the biggest drivers for the build was David and Trisha’s desire to have an eco-friendly house. “We are looking forward to retirement and it was important to think of being as self-sufficient and easy care as possible. Landmark’s design included solar power, high-quality insulation, underfloor heating and double glazing.

We also looked at how we could reduce running costs on the house and not be at the beck and call of rising prices. Environmentally, we wanted to have as little footprint as possible,” says Trisha.

Trisha particularly likes the spacious, open plan kitchen and living room that flow onto a deck extending out over the bush. “Even from the lounge, we can sit and watch Kereru (wood pigeons), and other birds flit around. The first time we sat on the deck, it was like being in the treetops. It’s amazing because while we are surrounded by bush, we also have clear views over the surrounding landscape.”

In contrast, downstairs is a quiet space, which was part of the plan too. “We wanted the living space upstairs and bedrooms downstairs, which worked very well. In the evening it’s very restful downstairs. We don’t even notice the rain on a stormy night – it’s insulated and quiet,” she says.

And the underfloor heating, warmed hydraulically by water piped through the floor, is incredibly efficient, says David. “You can walk barefoot on the polished concrete floor; it’s a lovely feeling. It also gives a pleasant ambient temperature, so everything feels so comfortable. The whole house is constantly around 22 degrees.”

David and Trisha’s kitchen is their pride and joy. Both are keen cooks and enjoy entertaining, so their kitchen needed to be the hub of the open plan design. “I couldn’t imagine it being closed off from anything else,” says Trisha.

“We put a lot of thought into the appliances and other features such as the porcelain benchtop; it’s hardwearing and heat resistant so that you can chuck just about anything onto it. Our oven is another fabulous appliance -it’s a gas top, double oven with Teppanyaki grill and rotisserie. It also has a very quiet fan extractor, so if you are chatting with guests, you don’t have to battle with additional noise.”