HOME OF THE MONTH

A new home sculpted from concrete and steel is turning heads in Feilding.

Stepping outside the architectural square paid off for these Feilding homeowners

Trish and Max Bryant’s new house mystified many as it was being built. “People would sneak down the right-of-way at night to check it out. It was certainly a build that carried some intrigue,” says Trish. Whispered commentary included the opinions that it looked like a bomb shelter or resembled castle ruins. The Bryants laughed, acknowledging that what they were creating – a fusion of dark metal, timber and concrete – was a little different from the norm in Feilding. They were confident, however, that the completed project would be a success. They were right. Fast forward about three years and their home is turning heads rather than raising eyebrows. Trish and Max have loved it from the get-go.

The adventurous design can be attributed to architectural designer Matt Janes of Pak Design, who they were introduced to by their builders Humphries Construction. “We simply told Matt we had a fairly smallish section [550m²] and wanted a two-storeyed townhouse,” Trish recalls. “We absolutely fell in love with what he came back with; we didn’t alter a thing.”

The Bryants, who are retired chicken farmers, moved into town from a 2ha block that had been part of their 120ha farm in nearby Halcombe. They knew the change wouldn’t be “too