Grande by name, grande by nature
Ross says they love that the house is quirky and practical and that it made the best use of their small section and budget.
The interior is lined with clearfinished pine plywood, with green internal doors providing pops of colour. The exterior cladding is scoriacoloured corrugate.
Using rich red was a deliberate decision to have something ‘‘a bit more cheerful’’ than the usual greys, greens and dark blues seen in Wanaka suburbs, Maclean says.
The material was economical to use and having the house on timber piles also helped with the costs.
Tripleglazed windows, generous insulation levels, an airtight construction and a mechanical heat recovery/ ventilation system make it a snug and healthy home to live in.
But it’s the roof deck that is the high point in more ways than one.
‘‘It takes a relatively simple form and adds a twist which I think really surprises people,’’ he says.
‘‘It’s very useful and practical to be able to go up there, away from the rest of the house, and the outlook is amazing.’’ finger can strip away to reveal green leaf underneath.
The flower trusses of 1525 welltextured florets are commonly cream to pale yellow but can also be pink with a central blotch and spots.
Since Wight’s discovery in 1847, a further 10 species have been discovered with similarly large leaves, flowers and stature. One of those, R. sinogrande has leaves up to 30cm wide and 90cm long, the largest of any rhododendron. Subsequently these 11 species have been grouped together to form that portion of the genus Rhododendron known as Subsection Grandia.
There are several specimens of Rhododendron grande scattered throughout the rhododendron dell but one of the best specimens can be found at the head of the gully between the azalea garden and the small footbridge just to the south.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden
For further information contact Doug Thomson