award-winning architectural studio

WORDS MONIQUE BALVERT-O’CONNOR (UNO MAGAZINE) Unique and aesthetically appealing, sinuous curves soften the angles and straight lines in this award-winning home, created in true collaborative style. Collaboration led to celebration for Thorne Group Architecture (TGA) at the recent ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards in Christchurch. TGA designed Thorne Group’s showhome in Palm Springs, Pāpāmoa, which came away from the gala event with two national awards – one as winner of the residential interiors category, the other as Resene Colour in Design category winner. The jubilant winners say the awards are the result of a highly collaborative way of approaching a design project. Thorne Group director and construction manager Gavin Morrow says the norm is for a house to get designed, go to the builder, then to the interior designer. “This time, instead of working in those individual silos, we worked as a collective. Builders, project managers, suppliers, interior designer (Annique Heesen from Gezellig Interiors)... We all met at the concept stage and from there we had a shared vision, a collaborative approach and great synergy.” Noticeably, the project also involved pushing the boat out in terms of research and development. From Left: Annique, Jon & Gavin Gavin tells how, for example, some of the finishes hadn’t been trialled before and that the suppliers are commended for pushing the envelope. “It really did come down to detailing,” he says, and to everyone staying true to the brief of presenting a home that spoke of “soft coastal curves”. This aspect was singled out by the judges, who commented, “The detailing radiates elegance and sophistication alongside a calm and understated beauty, demonstrating skill and experience from the designer. “All the colours of this home have been carefully considered... Making the transition between spaces joyful and seamless.” Thorne Group Architecture director Jon McAlpine says excellent architectural results often come from presenting a perception of simplicity. “The show home features a simple material palette of plaster and cedar integrated with soft, elegant curvatures that feed through to the interior, creating effortless living. That natural palette is complimented by the home’s articulation around a central internal landscape garden. There’s a wonderful interior feel, and the living is effortless here,” says Jon of the house, which does a great job of standing out from the crowd. As the judges commented, “Adding to the overall appeal is the fact the home has been designed to gain 6 Star Homestar accreditation. “Eco-friendly materials and finishes” and “sustainability” have been guiding words in this show home project. When this show home was completed earlier this year, predictions were that this Palm Springs beauty on Montiicola Drive was one to watch out for at architectural awards time. That prophecy has been realised. We’ll give the judges the last words: “Exquisitely detailed and effortless.”

Built-in furniture was often a pivotal feature within Frank Lloyd Wright homes, defining how people—and their things—were meant to occupy his iconic buildings. Over recent years we have started to see a resurgence of built-in furniture. From high-end homes to tiny houses, custom fitted furniture has many advantages. There's just something about built-in furniture that, if done correctly, beautifully marries form with function. Be it a reading nook, recessed dressing table, built-in desk within a study nook, under-stair display unit, integrated dining table or TV cabinetry - built-in pieces are a delightful combination of style (providing the design is cohesive and adds character to the design) and function. One of the key benefits of built-in furniture is that it is a a brilliant space-saving strategy. It therefore works particularly well within our ‘small but smart’ homes, making better use of available space while being unobtrusive and minimalist; giving you the ability to create the illusion of more space as well as ensuring that there is no wasted space. Examples of homes we have designed with built in furniture: Window seats Window seats are a popular feature in homes that we design. There is just something about being able to curl up with a book and bask in the sunshine. Storage can also be integrated within the design. It is essential window seats are well placed, especially to capture sun and views. In this home we designed the Mount is framed perfectly. Multi-award winning Thorne Group show homes: 2017 Thorne Group showhome above and current showhome below. The current showhome incorporates storage with drawers underneath for additional functionality. Shelving Built-in shelves can act as both storage, display or even a room divider (as in the case in this Thorne Group home ). Adding functionality to an entrance This entrance features a place to hang hats, scarfs and a large, functional pull-out drawer for storing shoes. Examples of built-in desks with overhead storage. Adding a window to provide an exterior outlook delivers both light and sense of space. This built-in desk was integrated with a window seat in the clients bedroom. Built-in dining Space was at a premium in the home below. Creating a built in dinning area, allowed a designated dinning area within the smaller footprint. The dining area below serves as a secondary informal dining area for the family. Built-in seating Built-in seating was pivotal to the design in this case and seating is custom made for the corner sunken lounge. TV Cabinetry The recesses in this home are designed within the structure of the building to house the TV and window seat. This allowed the cabinetry to sit perfectly with the protruding wall. The effect was that the functional elements were transmuted into a design feature. In this streamlined design the TV is hidden behind a sliding door. The clients did not want the TV to be a focal point in the room, but at the same time wanted it positioned in a practical location.

This home is situated in a private, well established street within Tauranga. It is surrounded by similar properties of the 1970’s era. Its positioning allows for views through established trees to the Tauranga Harbour. Our brief was to completely modernise the home for a busy family’s needs. Creating warm, easy living spaces full of texture and interest while remaining sympathetic to the original 1970’s home. The original home had great bones. We felt that we should work with this rather than against it. Existing roof lines were retained and reclad. The original brick veneer was preserved and painted and new exterior joinery installed throughout. The existing fibre cement clad areas were removed and clad in cedar to create warmth and a modern touch. The original driveway extended to the rear of the property. This was removed and became the perfect spot for a pool and outdoor entertaining area. BEFORE The interior spaces of the existing 1970’s home were extremely rigid. To maintain zones within the home, integrated vertical oak screens were added to create a degree of separation yet openness. A two sided fire, with natural timber surrounds immediately gives a sense of warmth and detail upon entering the home. Incorporating a completely remodelled kitchen layout, the only ‘extension’ to this renovation was for a walk in scullery. AFTER Original ceilings were removed and replaced with tongue and groove linings. Old and new structural roof beams were expressed and wrapped in oak. The former garage was converted into a teenagers rumpus area with direct access to the pool. This was fitted out with timber linings and furnishings reminiscent of the 1970’s era. The over width hallway was retained and skylights added for natural light. The hallway has become a design feature in itself. The upper floor structure was retained as a dedicated master suite with a luxurious ensuite combined with his and hers dressing rooms. Our architectural response to this renovation captured the clients brief. As demonstrated in this renovation in particular, it is not what you do that matters… it is what you don’t do. Builder: Harper Homes

Q&A with Jon McAlpine Can't afford the dream house just yet or want to keep your options open in case your family expands in future years? Have young kids but thinking in future years you might need additional space for teenagers, so you can all keep your sanity? Increasingly, clients are wanting to explore the option of a staged build, to accommodate a bedroom or rumpus room wing in future years. What are the implications for architectural plans and consent? There are a couple of different options. Firstly, you could proceed with the additional wing included within the original/initial council consent drawings. Whilst you will have the benefit of having only one fee from council, there is a council requirement that the addition must be completed within a certain period of time. Having this time constraint may defeat the purpose of why you want to do a staged build in the first place. The second option, and what l would recommend, is to undertake a preliminary design investigation for the additional wing (within the sketch and scheme stage) which would allow daylighting and other planning requirements to be met. It is then possible to proceed with working drawings and council consent only with what the client intends to build immediately. When the clients decide to proceed with the additional wing (at some point in the future), it is at this point that the additional council consent detail drawings would be completed. There would be an additional (generally smaller)consent fee when resubmitting. What are the costing implications for the build? Inevitably having a staged will add more to the overall cost of the build, for a few reasons. Firstly building costs generally go up over time and secondly you are having to get all trades back twice and finally, you will generally need to re-construct an area of the home where the addition is connecting. Please contact us at: jon@thornegroup.co.nz​  |  027 2773233 if you would like to discuss further.

As the majority of New Zealanders spend more time in their homes than ever before, anything that you perceive negatively about your home is magnified. Did isolation highlight any of the key elements you would like to fix within your home? 1. Space: If you weren’t isolating alone, did someone else in your ‘bubble’ start to drive you a little crazy? In these unprecedented times, for those of us who LOVE having time to ourselves, did you crave the ability to create a ‘bubble within a bubble’ ie a little time on your own? Having space for different family members is ideal, but reducing land sizes and subsequently smaller footprints makes this challenging to achieve. One solution is to create multi-functional spaces or rooms. Having rooms functionality align with how you want to spend your time in your home will create a much more pleasant living environment, and allow you some much needed time out from others if you crave it. 2. Flow & Room location: How does the current flow and room locations within your home work? Do you get the winter sun in the lounge? Is the toilet in the right location? Do you hate how visitors can see into your living space when approaching the house? Is your bedroom on the wrong side of the house? List everything you would want to change about the flow or room location as a starting point ‘wish list’. 3. Future Proof: How long do you anticipate you will live in the home? Did you want to create a space for a close friend, family member or even expanding your own family? One thing we find that people often underestimate is how their space requirements change as their children or even grandchildren grow. When the kids are young, you want to have a visual on them. With teenagers, both of you want as much space as possible! 4.Indoor/Outdoor flow: How does the indoor/outdoor flow work? Would you like to add covered outdoor areas, sliding doors? Creating an ‘outdoor room’ is often created as an afterthought, however, this can create an entirely different space if designed in the correct way. 5. Storage: Cleaning out spaces may not have been on your ‘to-do’ list during the lockdown, however, if it was, did you find you were getting frustrated due to insufficient storage? Storage is the one thing people absolutely love, and if you do ever want to sell your home, something you can be sure that potential buyers also take note of. So you can have a place for everything and everything has a place! 6. Noise mitigation: If you weren’t living alone, there is one thing that would have driven you crazy during isolation and, it was that someone in your ‘bubble’ making noise whilst you were trying to work/sleep/watch TV, etc. In our household with the kids all ‘homeschooling’ and us being on video calls proved to be a bit of a challenge. You can create zones for each member of the family if space permits, however, it is the noise that can be challenging. Consider noise-reducing GIB and insulation, but clearly the positioning of spaces plays a critical role. 7. Heating/cooling: How important is it to you, that home is warmer and in winter and cooler in summer by optimising passive solar energy? As the majority of New Zealanders will seek to reduce the running costs of their home, this will be the time to really analyse your electrical and water bills. This may involve upgrading joinery, retrofitting insulation and upgrading or integrating new eco-features, or even a simple fix of putting on water-saving devices to your tapware. 8. Design ascetic: Finally when undertaking a major alteration or renovation think about if you want the design to be sympatric to the existing design/era or completely modernise? Either way, it is critical that the addition or renovation incorporates seamlessly with the existing building. Please contact us at: jon@thornegroup.co.nz​  |  027 2773233 if you would like to discuss further. Current home alteration in development.

Now is the time to look at a reset. Since being in lockdown, if you are living in a home that does not maximise its full potential, this will have become even more evident. Your home has become your safe haven, your sanctuary. With this in mind, you want to ensure that your home can deliver maximum comfort whilst minimising the running costs of your home. In 2018 l became a Homestar accredited designer and assessor. You can read about what this means here: https://www.thornegroup.co.nz/post/do-you-want-to-create-a-warmer-drier-and-more-energy-efficient-home Below is a list of some options that you may want to consider when designing your new home or renovation project. Increasing insulation ‘R Value’ in walls and ceiling. Ensure the shower, bathroom and kitchen taps have all been fitted with water saving devices and have a good WELS rating. Bathroom extractor fans have been installed in every bathroom and Laundry ensuring they are ducted outside. The kitchen extraction over the hob is ducted to outside. WCs are dual flush with no more than 4.5L / 3L cisterns (4 Star WELS rating) All interior lights are LED or Compact Fluorescent (CFL). All Exterior lights are LED, CFL or other lamp type with a minimum efficacy of 40 Lm/W). Slab insulation under and around the perimeter of your home. Insulated garage (including garage door). Indoor clothes line (to reduce requirement for a dryer). E-glass or thermal break glass. Electric car charger. Solar water. Solar heating. Photovoltaic Panels (PV) to provide energy from the sun which is transferred into electrical energy to run your home. Rain water storage to use for either landscape watering, or filtered to use within your home. Low VOC products within the home The above will ultimately create a warmer and drier home that costs less to run. However you can also think about the products that go into your home, and the impact that these have on the environment. Options to reduce environmental impact: Environmental Choice NZ certified paint. Flooring certified either Environmental Choice NZ, GreenTag Level A or CIAL-ECS Level 4 certified. Wall linings to be Environmental Choice NZ Plant natives on your property or in a designated planting area. You can read how Thorne Group mitigates our carbon footprint by planting trees for every home built here. If possible check the origin of every product, fixture and fitting that goes into your home and any environmental certification.

Multi-generational homes Land shortage, polling together of resources and grandparents around to look after the kids, not to mention having more people you love and care about nearby. Multi-generational living is something we are seeing an increasing trend. However for this to work successfully, careful design and planning is essential. Tips for planning a multi generation home. If different generations are going to be sharing common areas and facilities (such as bathrooms and kitchens) then you may want to consider the following: Noise mitigation: Careful designing around reducing noise is essential, considering the location of bedrooms, TVs, bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor areas will need to be carefully considered. Utilising noise mitigating wall linings and insulation could also be installed. Media room: This doesn’t need to be a large room at all, however consider having a designated room that can be closed off from the rest of the house to watch TV in a noise contained space. A space the kids can watch a loud movie without driving grandparents insane! Master Bedrooms: Providing it works with the site, consider locating the main bedrooms opposite ends of the home to give all adults living within the house a little more space. Multi-functional spaces: Having spaces that can be multi-purpose or integrated within a smaller footprint such as, window seats, study nook, covered outdoor will create more 'zones' within the footprint to allow different family members space. Kitchen: If you are going to be sharing a kitchen, consider having a walk-in pantry or scullery, good ergonomics and plenty of storage to accommodate the requirements of the additional adults. Bathrooms: Are you wanting to have a designated bathroom and or toilet for specific family members? Parking: Ensure you can accommodate the number of cars that will be parked permanently at the residence alongside visitor parking. Outdoor space: It is important to think how everyone that shares the space entertains. Do you want multiple outdoor spaces to allow different family members the option to entertain or relax within different outdoor zones at the same time? If budget and section size permits, then having a self-contained studio or unit would allow family members to have more space and privacy. If this the situation that you are planning, then you may want to consider the following: A studio or an apartment? Budget, anticipated footprint of the home, section size and regulations will be key considerations within this decision. Attached to the main home or completely separate? Once again the above will be determining factors if this feasible. A separate entrance? Having a separate entrance will not only provide privacy, it will also assist with noise mitigation. What facilities are you prepared to share? Would you like the studio/apartment to have its own kitchen/kitchenette and laundry? Note that some councils do not allow more than one kitchen on a site. Shared entertainment area or multi outdoors? Think about if elderly people would be ok with young kids having music playing. As above you will also need to accommodate parking requirements Council requirements: If there are two kitchens then additional consenting and rates fees will apply (each council has different regulations around the number of kitchens allowed on a title). If it’s essentially going to be two homes with a party wall then the party wall needs to be fire rated. Please contact us at: jon@thornegroup.co.nz​  |  027 2773233 if you have further queries pertaining to this.

A home and income can involve a couple of different scenarios. Home Business / Work from Home: Firstly ensure that both the covenants (if in a subdivision) and the council will allow your particular business to operate from your home. If your home business complies, the same principles for planning room placement, separate entrances and noise mitigation should be applied. Case Study The brief: Home and income that including the following: 3 bedrooms scullery large walk in wardrobe mud room window seat covered outdoor 3 bathrooms (one large ensuite with bath and tiled shower, guest bathroom and shower room and extra toilet within the office/meeting room area) meeting room office with separate entrance This was achieved within a 200sqm footprint on a 334sqm section. Below are some pictures of the outside of the home, the office and meeting space. This is an excellent example of what can be achieved on a small site. Case Study THE BRIEF: Home and income that includes the following: Create an in home salon in the lower level of the family home based on Oceanbeach Road, Mt Maunganui. The salon must be accessible from off the road with a seperate entrance. The salon needed to have separate entrance with a secondary internal access. The Before: After: Guest Accommodation: Having a space that you can rent out on Airbnb or alternatively house a long term tenant is an option that many are now considering when building their home or undertaking an alteration. The first step is to ascertain what you are wanting by considering the following; Are guests likely to stay for the weekend or long term? Putting thought into how long guests will potentially stay will help establish what needs to be included within the guest accommodation. Will you need a guest kitchen / laundry / lounge? Knowing what facilities you want to provide will help determine the size i.e. bedroom, studio or separate unit? Long term tenants will have very different requirements to a weekend visitor. Section size, budget and any council regulations or site covenants will also be key determining factors in establishing the size. Regardless, layout should be carefully planned to ensure complete space optimisation. Note that your Architectural Designer will be able to advise you regarding any council regulations. How much do you want to interact with your guests? What is your primary motivation? Do you want to entertain overseas guests in a shared space or prefer that you both have your own privacy? Do you require a separate entrance for your guests? Having a separate entrance will give you both a lot more privacy, additional security and also assist with noise mitigation. How many additional cars do you want to accommodate? A couple may have a car each? Providing parking for guests / tenants, as well as additional visitor parking will need to be incorporated into the planning. Are you prepared to entertain with your tenant around and vice versa? You might also like to consider if you want a quiet space outside to read a book whilst your tenant is entertaining or playing music. Careful consideration when planning separate outside spaces is critical to making this situation work for both parties. How important is noise mitigation? If you like your peace and quiet then careful placement of rooms, bathrooms, kitchen and living areas is essential. In addition it may be worth considering installing noise reducing GIB and insulation. Possible Consent Requirements. If there are two kitchens within the same dwelling then additional consenting and rates fees will apply. Some councils may not even allow two kitchens within the same title. If it is essentially going to be two homes with a party wall then the party wall needs to be fire rated. You can contact us directly at jon@thornegroup.co.nz​  |  027 2773233 if you have further queries pertaining to this.

If there’s one aspect which unites us all at The Thorne Group, it’s our love of design. Jon McAlpine (Director of Thorne Group Architecture) is an expert at creating flexible design elements in smaller homes. It’s all about zones Having smaller but functional spaces becomes useful. Even if it is just a couple having different zones’ to allow each occupant living in the home their own space; whether it be a space to read, entertain or just watch TV. Creating different zones whilst still ensuring you achieve your ultimate objective of having a low maintenance/small footprint home. Flexible zones, ability to close off the lounge. The current Thorne Group showhome features a sliding door to give occupants the ability to close off the lounge from the kitchen/dining to create a different zone (the reeded glass still allowing light to filter through). This opens up the option of possibly entertaining in kitchen/dining whilst someone watches TV or reads in the closed off lounge, still accommodating different needs without having two lounges. Factoring in the features Other features Jon will often integrate within a home, (if the site allows for it), include a study area, covered outdoor area, feature entrance, window seat and feature ceilings (which whilst add to the budget do give the illusion of more space). Window Seats Window seat at award winning 2017 Showhome (above) provided both a place to read a book in the sun or additional seating if entertaining. Window Seat at current multi-award winning showhome (above) combines both storage and seating. Study Nooks We have found study nooks to be a better option than an office. Electronic devices are so portable, a separate room isn’t necessary. It’s great to keep you connected to the warmth and action of the house – and best of all, saves on floor area and therefore costs, freeing up budget for other areas. 2017 Award winning showhome office nook (above) Multi-functional rooms: In most smaller homes, rooms will be required to serve more than one purpose. In the example below at a small Mt Maunganui home, the office transformed into a guest bedroom from a bed hidden in the wall. Designated laundry space: If you don't want to increase the footprint of your home by creating a separate laundry, yet the idea of your washing machine in the garage doesn't appeal, another alternative is the create a designated laundry nook within a hallway or hidden cupboard. The laundry cabinetry in the current Thorne Group showhome is situated in the transitioning space to the garage. Having a covered outdoor area isn’t just about providing shade on a summery day. With detailed planning and clever design taking into account privacy, views, prevailing winds and sun angles – a covered outdoor area can be functional even on the coldest winter’s day. Covered outdoor Mount Maunganui small but smart home (below) Render of a Mt Maunganui home on an infill site (below). Built in dining area Other design considerations could be a built in dining area for space optimisation, that could also be utilised as an additional entertaining space. Finally one of the most critical design considerations within a small footprint is ensuring complete space optimisation, so absolutely no 'dead space'. This also translates to any transitioning areas such as entrance and hallways. Please contact us at: jon@thornegroup.co.nz​  |  027 2773233 if you would like to discuss further.

On Friday, July 5 two separate functions were held to announce the winners of both the 2019 Resene Architectural Awards and in Tauranga the 2019 Master Build House of the Year. Held annually, the ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards in Hamilton celebrate the creative talent of architectural designers and architects from the region. After a bit of a nervous wait, we were absolutely thrilled to be awarded two regional awards and one commended award. ‘Pure Forms’ won the new home category between 150m2 and 300m2 Architectural Design Award. This stunning family home is nestled in the heart of Mount Maunganui. The brief was threefold. The clients wanted to create a home that functioned well for their young family’s needs and that had the feel of a traditional beach bach. It also had to utilise its unconventional site to its full potential, allowing for a boat park. Built by Calley Builders The brief also needed to be delivered under a strict construction budget. We went for a simple design that used pure forms and a traditional aesthetic with strong rooflines. To accommodate the brief, the footprint was extended into the roof space. This maximised the floor area and limited construction costs. In keeping with the traditional architecture and Mount Maunganui bach theme, stained cedar plywood and batten was selected. The judges said the substantial home carries its size well. “The plan and the form have been carefully crafted to create a sequence of spaces, a combination of calm, dramatic, expansive, and intimate, all as a backdrop for family life.” ‘Textural Connections’ took out the Architectural Interiors award for the Thorne Group showhome with Interior Designer Annique Heensen. This is the second time we have won this coveted award. The client brief was to create a show home that appealed to a wide audience yet offer scope to be polarising, unique within its surrounding environment and environmentally conscious as well as cost effective – all this stacked up to be a challenging brief. With a footprint just over 220m2 this is not a large home, however there is still a sense of spaciousness. The living spaces extend seamlessly through over light glazing to the covered outdoor area The interiors have a combination of natural materials which blend with its organic feel. The result is an interior that still feels really homely and sophisticated, while still being quite bold in its form. Added to this is the homes ‘eco features’. The home has been designed to gain accreditation as 6 Star Homestar rated. Built by www.thornegroup.co.nz We were thrilled when the showhome was also awarded Gold at the Master Build Awards in Tauranga. Finally Timeless Tradition’ was recognised with a commended award. Situated in Mount Maunganui the brief was to create a timeless family home with an emphasis on interior/exterior connections. Black stained cedar weatherboard cladding with accents of plaster and exposed trusses were used to the Entry, living and exterior. Built by JACO builders The split pavilion design created well defined public and private areas. Being offset it formed a wonderful private North facing Pool and lawn area. This area is accessible from the main living areas. Large garaging and service areas were incorporated into the design. Above the garaging the children’s area was tucked away with bedrooms, bathroom and play/rumpus room. It was such an honour to win these awards with such a high calibre of entrants. Meantime the same night in Tauranga, the 2019 Master Builder House of the Year were held. It was celebrations all around with all 4 entries of homes we designed winning gold (3 for Thorne Group and 1 for Edinbridge Resources). Fantastic night all around and celebrations did go well into the night in both Tauranga and Hamiliton! Excited about the year ahead, working on some fantastic projects, both small and large with some fantastic clients.

Our way of working at Thorne Group is to ‘build with the future in mind’. Under this vision, one of our desires is to create warmer, healthier and drier homes under the Homestar framework. With Jon McAlpine (Principal Thorne Group Architecture), now a qualified Homestar Accredited practitioner and assessor this gives our clients the option to have a minimum of a 6 star Homestar accredited home. The New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) is often perceived as the benchmark in terms of building compliance and performance, however, compliance with the NZBC is merely a minimum standard to attain. By way of example, a compliant home built to the requirements of NZBC/H1 would only achieve a 3 or a 4-star rating (from a 1-10 star rating band). What is Homestar? Homestar is a comprehensive, independent national rating tool that measures the health, warmth and efficiency of New Zealand houses. A home is rated on a scale from 6 to 10. Homestar was developed for residential homes by thNew Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) (a not-for-profit, industry organisation). It is based successful international rating tools and adapted for New Zealand's specific conditions. It can be used on any residential building, from stand-alone homes to multi-unit dwellings. A 6 Homestar rating or higher provides assurance that a house will be better quality - warmer, drier, healthier and cost less to run - than a typical new house built to building code. A 10 Homestar rating means you've built a world-leading house. What are the benefits of a Homestar home? Warmer, healthier and drier: Homestar's minimum standards for insulation, ventilation and moisture extraction create a home that's healthier to live in and cheaper to run. Broadly speaking, a 6 Homestar home will be 38% more energy efficient than a home built to the building code.(Potential savings vary from region to region.). Our R-values, a measure of heat loss from our ceilings, walls and floors, are 50% worse than many countries. Heated efficiently; The majority of our homes are under-heated by international standards, falling at least 2 degrees Celsius short of the World Health Organisation's minimum indoor daytime temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. Independently verified as performing better than the building code: International commentary includes: "The New Zealand Building Code is below the standards required in most IEA countries with comparable climates." If you're building, achieving a 6 Homestar rating adds just 1.5% to the purchase price of a typical three-bedroom house - or nothing at all if the house is slightly smaller than today's larger homes. Homestar reduces the cost of running a home, especially in terms of energy and water savings. Over seven years (the expected home ownership period), a6 star Homestar home would expect to achieve annual savings on energy and water bills of $573-$729 per year.

As sub divisional land becomes scarcer, section sizes decrease to allow for more homes - a function of medium density and reducing ‘Urban Sprawl’. The reduction in section size has a huge bearing on how we design. But a small section doesn’t mean that there needs to be compromise when it comes down to design and how we live. If we adhere to the same architectural fundamentals as with any new home design, whether it be a 150sqm or a 300ssm floor area, the design response will still be ‘custom made’ for that site. How we live generally is the same regardless on house size, therefore with compact designs, such as two bedroom homes, the spaces need to be designed carefully and provide multiple use spaces. A good example of a multiple use space is a covered outdoor area. Sometimes referred to as outdoor rooms or Alfresco areas, they are so ubiquitous with the New Zealand lifestyle that they are now being treated the same way as any other room in the house in terms of architecture and landscape design. These spaces are treated as extensions to the home, with some going as far as incorporating outdoor kitchens into the brief (or at least making a designated place for the classic Kiwi barbeque). These outdoor areas can incorporate a number of clever design options, such as opening louvre roofs and sliding screens to enhance the space further to make an extremely versatile and seamless extension of the home. Creating outdoor spaces is incredibly important to the overall design of the home. It enables people to have multiple options depending on environmental conditions at the precise time you feel like spending time outdoors. Wind direction, wind strength, cloud cover and the temperature are all factors that you will take in within a fraction of a second, and they will determine the most comfortable position. Modern home design should give you these options, that’s why it always good to have more than one outdoor ‘zone’ as well as an extension to the roof to allow additional shading if required. People have the misconception to have multiple outdoor ‘zones’ you need to have a large home. Clearly, with larger homes, it is much easier to create these various options. However, even with small homes, l always try to incorporate more than one outdoor area if possible, as well as a covered outdoor area. This really does allow for so much more flexibility in the way you live.