George and Yvonne are leaving Auckland to retire in Nelson.
They've chosen a difficult site over a tidal estuary and George wants to paint the entire house black - inside and out.
- Chris Moller talks Grand Designs NZ season three
- Episode one: Inside the historic Dargaville homestead
So the house doesn't fall into the estuary water, ninety wooden piles are driven into the ground to make sure the house sits well above the rising seas.
Protecting the black panelling is corrugated steel roofing, chosen to reflect the iconic apple-packing sheds scattered across the coast.
"It was my goal to design and build something that I thought was going to be worthy to live in," George explained.
"I thought, 'if you can do that at an affordable cost, then why aren't we building more of these things for the people that need it?'"
The full episode can be viewed on ThreeNow.co.nz and photos from inside the home can be viewed below.
Grand Designs NZ is broadcast on Three on Tuesdays at 7:30pm.
Newshub.
