| 77 Highfield Architecture ARCHITECTURE “We selected these panels for the Westmere residences for their ability to deliver a high-performance building envelope offering excellent thermal efficiency, superior airtightness, and strong structural integrity.” T T Sue Russell Overseas experience brings valuable insights SIPs, which are prefabricated panels, were used for the walls and roof where the rigid foam insulation is sandwiched between two structural OSB skins. Following time spent living in the French Alps, Sally Highfield returned to New Zealand intent on designing homes that were not only visually striking and resilient in nature, but would perform well above the standard demanded by our Building Code. While based in Mount Maunganui, Sally works nationwide and she is currently completing a passive house designer course, another step in her journey to focus on highperforming house design, which she knows deliver lasting benefits. Through her experience of more advanced building practices overseas, Sally realised the New Zealand Building Code was lacking in many respects – particularly after seeing brand-new homes still struggling with condensation, mould, and uncomfortable temperature fluctuations. “The minimum requirement does not equal good practice, and working overseas opened my eyes to how we could do things better,” says Sally. “When I established my own company I was driven by the desire to do what feels right.” Approached by her client to design a multiunit development in Auckland’s Westmere, Sally recognised it as a valuable opportunity, not only to explore what could be achieved, but also to respond to her client’s shared ambition for a better-performing design outcome. SIPs, which are prefabricated panels, were used for the walls and roof where the rigid foam insulation is sandwiched between two structural OSB skins. “We selected these panels for the Westmere residences for their ability to deliver a highperformance building envelope offering excellent thermal efficiency, superior airtightness, and strong structural integrity,” Sally explains. Just as importantly, their prefabricated nature significantly accelerated construction, allowing the homes to become weathertight much earlier than traditional methods would have done. This meant work on the interior spaces could begin sooner, improving both build efficiency and the overall project timeline. Underpinning the‘Westmere Residences’ design was the vision to bring into form a new expression of what city living could look and feel like. Sally says she is thrilled that while focusing on high-performance building, nothing has been taken away from the style and livability of each home. Plenty of attention was given to offering generous open-plan living, balanced with private outdoor sanctuaries. Brick and vertical steel cladding contrast superbly with vertical fins overlaid outside the upper floor to support privacy and reduce environmental impact from the sun, especially in terms of the building overheating. Sally reflects on the challenges that came with working on a tight section. “A lot of architects want to be given a big, grand, spacious site, but when you are given a site that carries a lot more restrictions, it really narrows down what you can and can’t do and that is exactly the challenge and the joy.” As a consequence, the design elements were really ‘pushed’ for space. Solutions were found each step of the way, for example with curving walls allowing for the turning circle for the cars. Cantilevering the upper floor provides cover for the downstairs area, and the brick, a personal favourite of Sally’s, brings a solid ‘here to stay’ look, while being engagingly offset by the steel vertical drops. ‘Westmere Residences’ has been chosen as one of 25 finalists in this year’s Home of the Year Award, featuring the best that New Zealand architecture has to offer across seven categories. Sally’s design is one of four finalists selected in the Multi-Unit category. Sally says she is enjoying the range of projects she is working on from her home studio at the Mount. “I’m looking forward to seeing a number of projects on my desk come to fruition in time. The residential build sector has had a quiet few years and it will be interesting to see how things pick up as this year works through.”
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