| 101 T T Sue Russell Passive homes a passion for firm Brooke and Amie also bring their design flair to the interior spaces of the home. ARCHITECTURE TAWA Architecture & Design Brooke and Amie Cholmondeley-Smith have brought their skills in architectural and interior design into their boutique design studio, TAWA Architecture, based in the rapidly growing town of Cambridge, a 10 minute drive south of Hamilton. They established their practice, after returning from London and Europe in 2006 where Brooke discovered Passive House (High-Performance) design principles. He was keen to concentrate on this specialisation, given its sustainability, health and comfort benefits for clients, however after working for well-established New Zealand architectural firms, it became evident to them that running their own practice was the best way for them to be able to lead the industry in architecturally designed Passive Houses. In 2011 Brooke undertook 2 years of postgrad study, through the German Passive Haus Institute, to become one of the first Certified Passive House Designers in New Zealand. TAWA Architecture in fact built the very first Certified Passive House in the Waikato in 2011 and the second in New Zealand. Today, TAWA Architecture concentrates solely in the residential design market specialising in bespoke architecturally designed Passive and High-Performance homes. Passive House design is all about creating a well-functioning, climate aligned home where clients can enjoy a healthy environment, at a consistent temperature without the need for additional energy spent on heating and cooling. Homes built to Passive House standards are commonplace overseas, especially in Europe where quality, healthy homes are a non-negotiable standard. “It will take a while for it to become mainstream here in New Zealand, however, it is exciting to see more and more clients coming directly to us having heard about our expertise and who value high-performance over standard construction,” says Brooke. Another recently completed project, Āhuru, near Raglan is a step above Passive House design standards. Known as Passive House Plus, the coastal home uses as much energy as its occupants consume, effectively making it a net zero home. To qualify for this standard, the energy generated for the home must come from renewable sources and provide enough energy to operate the building throughout the whole year. Passive House Certification for this home is expected to be issued by May. This is a ground-breaking home, the collaboration between the clients, Brown Construction Limited and landscape architects has created a refined and time-less design that will be enjoyed by many generations to come. “Our extensive experience as Certified Passive House Designers strongly informs our design approach. We provide all of our clients, regardless of whether the home is Passive or not, with thermal modelling, which proves a home’s performance prior to being built.” Brooke says another development he’s keen to see implemented further is through the use of prefabrication construction systems, such as SIPs (Structurally Integrated Panel System) saying they offer several real benefits to clients and builders alike. “Within the SIPs framework there is endless scope to design beautiful architecturally designed homes that out-perform standard methods of construction on many levels. They are highly energy efficient, precise and quicker to build.” As with any successful project it starts with building the right team. “We maintain close relationships with trusted builders such as Higgs Building Co. who are highly skilled in this method of construction and who pride themselves on being Certified Passive House Tradesmen.” When Business North recently spoke with Brooke the design studio had several projects on the go around Cambridge. “We are excited to be working alongside Higgs Building Co. on their SIPs show home – a first for Cambridge. Collectively, we have a mid-build open home event planned on the 3rd of May for those interested to come and see how these types of homes are constructed, meet us, the builder and the SIPs manufactures all in one spot.” Brooke and Amie also bring their design flair to the interior spaces of your home. The couple offer clients a complete package and plenty of guidance and support on how to create an inside space that fits perfectly with their personalities and lifestyle needs. “We are also members of the New Zealand Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA), an organisation which champions the very best offering in design for these two critical areas of a home.” Having recently won both regional and national awards for their kitchen and bathrooms designs TAWA Architecture are equipped to offer their clients a full design package. B E A U T I F U L LY C R A F T E D , C O N S C I O U S LY B U I LT 31 Oliver St, Cambridge. Shaun Higgins - 022 610 7144 Collaborating with Tawa Architecture for high-performance homes At Higgs Building Co, we’re not just constructing houses; we’re shaping the future of living in New Zealand. Teaming up with forward-thinking architects like Tawa Architecture, we specialize in building passive and high-performance homes. As experts in Structural Insulated Panel (SIPs) construction, our homes are energy-ecient, providing superior insulation that significantly reduces energy consumption and costs. Excellent communication, exceptional workmanship, and a future-focused building philosophy are central to our locally owned and operated company. These are the non-negotiable attributes that set us apart. Experience the dierence – build with purpose, build with Higgs. Photos: Browns Construction Limited photo’s by Christel Yardley
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