A house of earth, timber and sky
Some houses are defined by their floorplan. This one is defined by the way it feels.
Designed by architect Graham Linwood and built in earth block and timber, this home has a solidity and warmth that is immediately apparent. The earth walls have texture and the timber glows in the sun. Deep window reveals frame views across lawn and rolling land to the Ruahine and Kaweka ranges, Napier Hill and glimpses of the sea.
It feels grounded in the landscape, rather than simply placed upon it.
Set across approximately 7.57 hectares in the hills above Haumoana, earth-block walls are paired with macrocarpa ceilings, recycled native timber trusses and cedar joinery, creating interiors that feel warm and entirely individual.
At the centre of the home, the kitchen, dining and living spaces form one generous open-plan area, designed for everyday life rather than formality.
Native timber cabinetry, granite surfaces and a generous island provide plenty of working space, while bifold windows behind the kitchen sink open directly into the adjoining indoor/outdoor entertaining room. It changes the way the spaces work together - food, conversation and people moving easily between inside and out.
Within the main living zone, an open fire framed by local river stone and a recycled Jarrah mantel adds warmth and character without interrupting the openness of the layout.
The indoor/outdoor entertaining room is one of the home's defining spaces.
Exposed timber trusses rise overhead, skylights bring in additional light, and bifold doors open almost the full length of the western wall to the courtyard and garden. A local river stone fireplace anchors one corner, while a three-metre built-in window seat creates somewhere to sit with a book, a glass of wine or simply watch the light change outside.
It is easy to imagine this becoming the room everyone gravitates towards. Long lunches with the doors folded back. Summer evenings extending well past dinner. A fire roaring on cooler nights. Friends staying longer than planned.
The primary suite opens directly outdoors and includes a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite where the bath is positioned towards the outlook, with a large bifold window opening to native planting beyond. Three further bedrooms accommodate family and guests, with two incorporating ladder access to small mezzanine spaces for extra sleeping, play or tucked-away retreats.
A separate office and versatile media room add further flexibility, while downstairs, an underground wine cellar maintains a naturally stable temperature.
Outside, established native planting, ornamental trees and mature pines give the property privacy and maturity, while formed tracks wind through the paddocks and gullies. Two small ponds, lawn and long views across Hawke's Bay complete the setting.
The floodlit AstroTurf tennis court sits naturally within the grounds and makes an evening game possible.
For those with a boat, campervan or gear for an active life, the implement shed and separate boat shed provide approximately 100m² of storage. The boat shed includes power, water, a concrete floor and built-in fish-filleting station.
Resource consent was granted in July 2026 to subdivide the property into two titles - approximately 4.8 hectares containing the existing home and amenities, and approximately 2.7 hectares with a potential building site.
The proposed site sits nearby but separately from the main residence, creating an appealing option for extended family to build close by without compromising the privacy of the existing home. Alternatively, a future owner could complete the subdivision and retain or sell the separate section.
The Hearth is difficult to reduce to a conventional list.
It is earth and timber warmed by the afternoon sun. Deep-set windows framing the landscape. A kitchen opening directly to the place everyone gathers. Fires in winter. Tennis in summer. Room for the boat, the campervan and the other things accumulated through a life well lived.
And, above all, a house that feels completely connected to where it stands.
Key features
* Approximately 409m² architect-designed residence
* Approximately 7.5681 hectares in one title
* Resource consent granted July 2026 for subdivision into approx. 4.81ha and 2.726ha titles
* Internal-access four-car garage and workshop
* Approx. 100m² of additional implement and boat shedding
* Two 25,000L water tanks supplied from a communal bore system
* Comprehensive heating including two heat pumps, two open wood fires and a wood burner, radiators and zoned underfloor heating
* Communal fruit and olive grove
For a comprehensive property information pack including LIM, title, floorplans and building report, enter this link into your browser: https://bit.ly/TheHearthPIP
Method of sale – Deadline (unless sold prior) 12 pm Thursday 8th October 2026.
