Tamahere Country Club
When Nathan Sanderson branched out on his own to build a retirement village, he had one simple aim: to build the best one in the country.
Tamahere Country Club is the culmination of his experience working for his father Fraser’s Sanderson Group and delivering projects such as Bethlehem Shores, Bethlehem Country Club and Queenstown Country Club.
“You could say I served an apprenticeship to my father working on those developments. We have taken all the best aspects of them and put them into Tamahere Country Club.”
Tamahere Country Club was started in May 2019 by Nathan and his wife as a seven-year build producing 93 homes but that has ballooned to 252 homes because of demand.
Tamahere Country Club runs its own construction teams, meaning it can bring a real focus to quality control.
Nathan said, “We wanted to build the best retirement village in NZ and we’re confident we’re delivering this to our residents. We have a large waiting list at Tamahere Country Club, meaning the homes have been selling as fast as we release them to the market.”
He added, “The village started as a 93-unit village with a clubhouse, health spa and small care facility. We imagined this would take us seven years to build but due to the overwhelming demand, within the original seven-year timeframe the village will be 252 units, 80-bed state-of-the-art care facility, clubhouse, health spa, lake house, cafe, health retreat, arts and craft centre, golf driving range, hobbies shed, and a man-made lake in the centre of the development with stone bridges for access over the lake and so much more.”
Nathan said the dream was to build a retirement village with beautiful architecture that will stand out in years to come.
“This is why we chose cedar, Italian brick and Dimondek 400 with under clip system as our exterior look. Every detail has been thought of without compromise to create the best retirement village.”
The average house size at Tamahere Country Club is 230sq m, and all homes are standalone with expansive gardens and lawn.
Nathan adds, “Our residents enjoy the opportunity to have input into their design, allowing them to create a customised home, perfect for enjoying the retirement the way have always dreamed of. Details such as interior fit out, electrical plans, kitchen designs and wardrobes are completed during consultations with our building partner during the building journey.”
Central to that process is Studio H, which has collaborated with Sanderson Group on the masterplan and villa designs for Tamahere Country Club.
Building upon their previous partnership with Sanderson Group, Studio H has incorporated the most exceptional aspects from their existing villages, resulting in a new standard of retirement care residences that aim to surpass expectations.
Each villa on the 31ha site has been meticulously crafted with the specific needs of its future occupants in mind, ensuring that every individual feels a profound sense of belonging within these dwellings. The homes boast a selection of opulent materials, including exquisite Italian bricks and elegant cedar cladding.
Careful attention has been paid to crucial building components such as external joinery, insulation and mechanical ventilation, guaranteeing the utmost comfort for all residents.
The villas range in size from 196sq m to 330sq m and include either a single or double garage. All Tamahere Country Club villas are north-facing to maximise sun and natural light.
With their gable forms and pavilion-style architecture, these homes stand proudly amidst the picturesque country setting. The layout of the village reflects meticulous planning, providing convenient access to local events and activities. The Sanderson Group's approach promotes a community feel, with a huge range of activities for residents to enjoy and a variety of spaces to socialise on site.
Architectural Designer Hannah Armstrong-Gardner, of Studio H, has been involved in this project and the new Matamata Country Club Village, both using the same Dimondek 400 roofing profile.
Hannah said, “We've been fortunate to be involved since the inception of both developments, allowing us to work through comprehensive briefs for the overall development and individual homes.
“For the Tamahere Country Club, the brief emphasised creating a luxurious, community-oriented living environment that seamlessly integrates high-end amenities with the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. The architectural brief for the homes focused on designing elegant contemporary residences featuring high-quality cladding materials such as cedar and Italian clay brick. These designs blend modern aesthetics with traditional elements, ensuring durability and visual appeal while harmonizing with the natural environment. Moreover, the homes are designed to ensure the best quality interior environment keeping our aging population dry, warm and healthy.”
The Dimondek 400 roofing was chosen for its tray profile aesthetic, strength, durability and excellent spanning capability.
Hannah said, “This design helps in reducing the number of required supports and therefore can save on construction costs. To be able to gain this architectural feature without increasing construction costs as is often the case with other tray profiles is a significant advantage when building many homes in one development.”