Category: Design
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ZETA Design + Build Modular Homes
ZETA Design + Build produce modular homes and buildings inside a factory. A great video on their website is probably the best way to see just how they’re revolutionising the manufacturing process of buildings and building modules. Howard Koenig, Chief Executive Officer ZETA Design + Build It’s telling that Howard Koenig, CEO of ZETA Design…
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Buildnz Designex
I’m just back from three days at Buildnz Designex, working on the Homestar stand and I’m fairly exhausted after talking to so many interesting designers, architects, builders and loads of product suppliers. Trade shows and expos can be a gamble. They’re expensive to attend as an exhibitor, they take time out of ‘productive work’ and…
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Why You Can’t Rely on the Building Code
If you’re reading this, then you’re interested in building a home that performs well. And if you want a home that performs well, you can’t rely on the Building Code to achieve this. This is because, in my opinion, the Building Code has very little to do with sustainability or actually building a good home.…
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The Stretch and Grow House
Phil McLean is a secondary school teacher who’s passionate about design. He was given the opportunity to take six months immersing himself in a new topic, in part to experience being a beginner learner again, to empathise with his students. His chosen new field was building and the result is his open source design of…
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Prefab Houses with Pamela Bell
Prefab houses have so much to offer. So why are we not doing more of it here in New Zealand, right now? This week, I spoke with CEO of PrefabNZ, Pamela Bell to discuss this very issue. The Name Prefab For many New Zealanders, the reason why there’s resistance to prefab is in the name. More…
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Is Passivhaus Relevant in New Zealand?
Is it ‘Passive House’ or ‘Passivhaus’? That was one question I put to expat Kiwi, architect and Passive House expert, Elrond Burrell. But the main question should be, is Passivhaus even relevant in New Zealand? Elrond Burrell was back visiting New Zealand recently and took the opportunity to conduct a couple of seminars on…
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Being a Green Architect
What does it mean to be a ‘green architect’? Sian Taylor trained to be an architect in Cardiff, Wales. When she arrived here in New Zealand, like many others who have experienced homes in colder climates, Sian was pretty appalled at the state of New Zealand houses. Since then Sian has gained experience working in…
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Rebuild and Renovate Christchurch
Amanda Magnus is the Exhibition Director for Exhibitions & Events New Zealand, and is responsible for organising the inaugural Rebuild and Renovate Christchurch Home Show. http://www.canterburyhomeshow.co.nz/index.htm The show, which is on from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th March at CBS Canterbury Arena, is a response to huge demand in Christchurch for information about building a…
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How to Insulate a Concrete Floor Slab
UPDATE: Check out this article for a list of slab edge insulation solutions, and episode 125 for my interview with Henry Edney of MAXRaft. The first thing to consider when looking into different types of concrete floors is why it’s so important to insulate the floor slab. To do this, we need to consider where…