Very few houses have caused heads to turn in quite the way the original Cape View did in 1998, with its soaring portal glass and signature prow. The house became the flagship design of the Rural Building Company, winning numerous awards including a Display Home of the Year and a prestigious Gold Key.

The Settlers View, inspired by the Cape View, is surely destined to equal the success of its sire.

The characteristic prow is still in evidence, with the huge portal windows and the raked ceiling of the large free form living area, ensuring that this is a house that will maximize any view, a house that will give the surrounding landscape true meaning in the lives of the occupants. Like many Rural Building Company houses, this means the home will perfectly complement bush blocks, coastal blocks, anywhere people seek to live in tune with our unique environment, not impose themselves upon it.

The double garage, with remote control door of course, features ample additional storage space, and provides secure entry to the home via a “cyber niche” next to the kitchen. Here a laptop can stand while you check recipes or catch up on the news or your banking, here too mobiles and i-pods can charge without cluttering the kitchen proper, here also is a simple place to keep the car keys and handbag when coming through the door.

The kitchen itself, ultra modern and spacious, enjoys views of the same aspect as the central Free Form Living, and integrates with this area seamlessly via a breakfast/coffee bar. To many this is the most important part of any home, and here you will find accessories at your fingertips, and plenty of bench and cupboard space. A common thread in our designs, as here, is the firm belief that the cook should not be isolated, should be able to share company at gatherings and join in conversations when the family congregate in the living area.

The free form living is the heart of the home, basking in the views provided by the glass prow elevation and warmed by a fireplace on its rear wall. This is a space perfectly suited for large gatherings of friends or family, or for single contemplation of the views, warm inside while the weather does its worst outside.

The possibilities growing from the Settlers design are almost endless. With a link to the front yard through double doors, even a home with a pool to the front and an al-fresco flowing from the free form living area on a suburban block is a stunning “what if we…..” . Or perhaps a timber deck around the front with a comfortable rocking chair or hammock? Lie back and imagine the view.

A departure from the Cape View plan is the position of the Master Bedroom, now situated in the former position of the activity room, ensuring that all the owners have to do in the morning to enjoy the view is fling open the curtains.

Spacious and perfectly served by a large ensuite with double vanity and ample dressing closet, the master suite has its own private verandah, once again maximizing views and accessed by a sliding door.

Also accessible to the master suite is an office area ideal for working from home, although this could easily do duty as a nursery for those starting or expanding a family.

While easily configured as a four or five bedroom home with minimal extra cost, as displayed the Settlers View has an activity area as an adjunct to the ample sized secondary bedrooms.

The laundry and main bathroom and wc are easily accessible from the rear entry to the home, especially important on rural blocks as a godsend in avoiding the traipsing of mud through the home.

Dominating the display village, with views across the suburb, the Settlers View will give visitors an excellent idea of how perfectly suited this wonderful home is for anyone seeking to capitalize on a view.