Auckland's Waiheke Island is one of the country's most demanding building environments: a unique setting that requires an innovative approach and a certain amount of local knowledge. There are a number of challenges to overcome when building on Waiheke Island. The weather is one issue, while council compliance is another.

Stormwater and wastewater management are the responsibility of the property owner, and the fact that the island endures more than its fair share of power outages means passive solar design and super insulation is an important consideration — particularly when winter hits.

There are also visual requirements that have to be factored into any design. The rustic holiday bach of years gone by has made way for more sophisticated houses that blend in with the surroundings, rather than competing with them.

Waiheke resident Bryce Ardern of Lite-House Ltd was chosen to build this high profile Cable Bay house, bringing a great deal of local knowledge and experience to the project.

As the house would be visible from the sea, he had to ensure it would integrate with the site and merge into the landscape. This meant cutting a building platform into the site and allowing the mono-pitched roofs of the house to mimic the contours of the site and surrounding landscape, enabling the split-level home to 'hunker down'.

A low pitched roof using Multidek profile in Colorsteel Maxx Sandstone Grey also helped to blend the building with the site. The colour met the low-reflectivity values demanded by planning rules. Being close to the water and right on the Hauraki Gulf meant that Colorsteel Maxx was the right choice for the conditions and ensured the cladding would be covered by extensive warranties.

With the home being totally dependent on roof water and storage in in-ground water tanks for water supply, water collection was another key consideration. In weather conditions where the southerly can literally produce horizontal rain, the Multidek profile was ideal for ensuring weathertightness, longevity, potable water and an aesthetically pleasing look.

For more information on the appropriate profile to use for low pitched roofs, refer New Zealand Metal Roofing Manufacturers Association. Code of Practice New Zealand Building Code E2/AS1.