LIGHT TOUCH

When Gus Anning and Sarah Rowe built an Earthship-inspired house in a secluded valley on the Coromandel Peninsula, their materials of choice were reclaimed, recycled and natural. Earthships are eco-conscious homes that incorporate solar power and on-site water treatment. They are usually built by the owners with the help of a community of volunteers.

“Sarah and I discovered Earthships through the documentary The Garbage Warrior, which was about architect Mike Reynolds who started building these types of homes in the US about 40 years ago,” says Gus.

The pair, who met five years ago and are a blended