Business North October 2021

| 83 ARCHITECTURE Sang Architects Combining beauty with performance Sue Russell The Legacy Project will create a dwelling where each family had their own separate place to live, but to allow for these individual homes to be connected together. D arryl Sang, of Auckland-based Sang Architects, worked with his father, the greatly respected and inspiring archi- tect and patron of the arts, Ron Sang for the past 25 years in the practice Ron established over 50 years ago. Sadly, Ron passed away in June this year, leaving behind a legacy of exceptionally de- signed homes, including the famous heritage listed Brake House built in Titirangi back in the 1970’s. Today, Sang Architects is as diverse in its ethnic make-up as it is in the projects it designs. “There are seven of us and we’re based in Ellerslie. We’ve grown steadily over the last few years.” Darryl says he and the team are first and foremost architects. “Excellent design is the most important as- pect. We use Passive House design principles because this analytical sustainable approach enhances our buildings,” ha says. “We use all our skills as Registered Archi- tects to design beautiful, inspiring, well-func- tioning buildings that satisfy our clients’ desires and goals and can apply a rigorous analytical approach to predict and fine tune building performance.” The practice has a number of Passive Hous- es under construction. One in particular, is a highly imaginative and leading-edge way of creating a compound, for a family of multi-generations to live together and support each other. “The family had lived on the site for the past 40 years wanted to continue to live together with three generations. The Auckland Unitary Plan allows us to increase your residential density on a site and this has enabled this vision of the family to be realised.” The brief was to create a dwelling where each family had their own separate place to live, but to allow for these individual homes to be connected together so the individual fam- ilies can combine for joint gatherings, meals and childcare. The grandparents’ home has a Master Kitchen where everyone can gather. Named “The Legacy Project” this home – designed as an Urban Village - will secure the future for the family in a way they value. “For this family it was very important that all generations can look after and support each other socially and financially by combining their resources.” Darryl is not only a Registered Architect but is also a qualified engineer and Certified Passive House Designer. He says that sustainability, in all its forms, underpins the design process. Two of the team are Certified Passive House Design- ers and there’s a strong desire from Darryl and the team to help the wider profession, home-owners, architects and developers to understand all the benefits that Passive House design brings – providing an optimal healthy environment for those who live inside while consuming very little energy. Passive House design principles can be ap- plied to any type of building - homes, offices, schools, healthcare or social housing. “Passive House design is much more recognised than it was five years ago. The first building was constructed in Germany in 1991 and as a practiced design and building methodology it has been in New Zealand for the past 8 years or so,” Darryl says. Understanding that today’s Building Code is a minimum set of building standards is some- thing Darryl says is critical in shifting demand from home owners to build in ways that meet far higher standards - resulting in homes that are warm and comfortable, healthy with no condensation or mould, low energy and long- term very cost effective to live in. “The Building Code is the bare minimum standard a home can be constructed to,” says Darryl. Darryl says on average Passive Houses will require a 10-15% increase in construction costs over a standard home, however with new prefabricated construction methods and better access to high performance materials and systems, this gap is closing. “The materials used are not that different, but we install continuous insulation, high performance windows, energy recovery ventilation and we take care of air-tightness, stopping uncontrolled energy leakage through drafts and thermal bridges.” “Our guiding vision is to create buildings that support our clients into the future, which will uplift them and sustainably provide them with warmth, comfort and safety, low energy Bruyere Ltd are proud to support Sang Architects 027 280 9414 180 Wade River Rd, Wade Heads 0932 terrybryers@outlook.com