112 | Thermal efficiency paramount The house uses high performing design principles in every aspect of its design and build,” says Design Base Architects director Peter Marment. ARCHITECTURE Design Base Architecture & MA Building T T Bernadette Cooney A beacon of high-performing housing is being built within Wanaka’s Northlake subdivision. A family home which integrates innovative high performing energy principles into its very foundation. The Kyeburn Street home is a collaborative project between Design Base Architects and M.A.Building Ltd. Scheduled for completion about mid-year, the three-bedroom family home though compact is by no means small. Testament to how better building can improve the performance within a standard Kiwi home, whilst preserving its value over time. “The client was wanting a compact, high-performing house utilising high performing design principles. While not being a certified passive house, this house uses high performing design principles in every aspect of its design and build,” says Design Base Architects director Peter Marment. The layout of the residence has been carefully planned to accommodate a variety of needs, including office space, open plan living area and a single garage. Intelligent moisture air barriers and seals have been integrated with the construction process, significantly enhancing the homes air and weather tightness. “Incorporating thermal modelling into the design process and considering the environmental impact of embodied carbon created by the project - helps us make far better-informed decisions as the architect,” says Peter. To measure and validate the thermal efficiency, the construction undergoes two rounds of air leakage testing, using the critical blower door test, says Design Base Architects Wanaka agent Jo Underwood. “The client was wanting a compact, high-performing house utilising high performing design principles.” Mark Anderson of M.A Building Ltd, the builder entrusted to actualise the project shares Design Base Architects’ commitment to high performing homes. “We could not have asked for a better aligned builder. Mark was involved from the get-go in assessing the range of construction options and ensuring our intention is not lost at any point during the build,” says Jo, who is designing and planning a hempcrete house as a future build of her own. The Kyeburn homes’ quest for maximum thermal efficiency extends to the use of timber framing with a wrap to ensure the house is insulated and airtight. This helps maintain a constant internal temperature all year round. Additionally, the house incorporates a heat recovery and ventilation system to bring in fresh, filtered air, a hot water heat pump system, triple glazed thermally broken doors and windows for superior performance and reduced carpeting to minimise allergens. The modern exterior aesthetic is corrugated cladding and thermally modified timber features. The result is a warmer, drier home with temperate indoor climate throughout the seasons, coupled with lower operating costs through reduced energy usage and maintenance. “When you think that for about 10 to 20 percent more than you would spend building a house to the bare minimum of the building code - the capital and operating gains you make over time with a high-performing house are significant,” adds Peter. The direction for the design of the home from the client’s perspective was largely focused on providing significantly improved liveability, quietness and health benefits for their family. Design Base Architects aspire to replicate this success for others, marking a promising future for sustainable living throughout New Zealand. Nelson | Wānaka | Invercargill www.designbase.co.nz architects 027 347 4740 hbhjoinery.co.nz
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