Indonesian-style longhouse proposed
Bill Manson with the long-house plans.
Golden Bay’s landscape may soon be graced with an Indonesian-style longhouse. Two years ago, Bill Manson of Hinterland, got resource consent for the 60-metre-long guesthouse structure complete with a distinctively concave roof-line, and his plans to start building are coming to fruition.
His plan shows eight units within the post-and-beam building, each with their bathroom and kitchen facilities. Also provided under the same big roof will be a communal kitchen and café area, plus a covered subtropical garden courtyard area, externally clad in polycarbonate, which will run the full length of the building. As a regular traveler to Bali, Bill plans to import a heap of carved doors and wall panels that will give the place a unique Balinese flavour.
To help share the cost of the $600,000-plus structure, Bill now hopes to expand the original guesthouse concept and pre-sell as many of the eight units as possible.
“It could be a great opportunity for say a single person or young couple to get a toehold into the Bay for around $70,000. This could work in conjunction with the coming and goings of a guesthouse, and enhance the life on this property at the same time.”
“This isn’t a new concept,” says Bill. “There’s already a few accommodation establishments around the country which operate like this and they work well.”
Gerard Hindmarsh
