104 | Premium build blends luxury andcomfort Trent Building Solutions is thriving in the Christchurch market for new residences. Trent Building Solutions T T Rosa Watson Archi Homes Christchurch Smaller and smarter T T Richard Loader BUILDING A residential building project in Fendalton, Christchurch is showcasing how modern living and lifestyle can be achieved in New Zealand’s urban areas, but there are calls for smoother processes for players in the city’s building industry. Built by Archi Homes, the project represents the development of a premium residential property designed to reflect contemporary elegance and functional living, says project lead and company director Nathan Lin. The brief was to create a family-oriented, luxury home that leverages its location within a prestigious school zone and offers a balance of sophisticated design and practical family comfort. “They aimed to blend modern convenience with a sense of timeless beauty, enhancing the lifestyle experience with high-end features like a gourmet kitchen, media room, and wine cellar,” Nathan says. Since the initial brief, the project has evolved, including a focus on the flow, and use of natural light throughout the home, and taking advantage of the section’s size to maximise outdoor-indoor living spaces, Nathan says. The home is carefully crafted to fit within the footprint of the section, maximising space without feeling cramped, and the craftsmanship highlights high-quality materials, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms, where premium fixtures like Gaggenau appliances are featured.” Project manager Rachel Hu of project management firm Hive PM, says for Christchurch to meet future housing demands, particularly post-earthquake redevelopment, there needs to be a more streamlined approval process, increased incentives for medium-density housing, and better infrastructure to support growing populations. “This includes balancing green spaces and sustainable urban development with the need for affordable, diverse housing options.” Plan Change 14, which addresses zoning and density changes in Christchurch, has created significant challenges for developers, she says. “Many developers feel restricted by increased regulations around housing density, particularly in areas traditionally known for single-family homes like Fendalton. The concerns primarily focus on balancing intensification with maintaining the character of the neighborhood.” A prominent construction company in Christchurch, Archi Homes is known for building high-end residential homes and multi-unit developments. They specialise in premium homes and in complex hillside developments, which require expertise in challenging terrain. Their role in providing diverse housing options, from luxury residences to multi-unit projects, makes them a key player in shaping the city’s evolving housing landscape. Rachel says construction companies like Archi Homes play a crucial role in Christchurch’s housing market. “These companies have been essential in responding to market demands, producing housing stock with exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail.” But with evolving market conditions and regulatory changes, such as Plan Change 14, builders are facing challenges in maintaining the same level of quality while adapting to new rules around density and zoning, she says. “To support companies like Archi Homes, and others providing critical housing stock, developers are calling for clearer, more streamlined processes that make it easier to build within regulatory frameworks. “There is a need for balance – creating opportunities for increased housing density to meet demand, while ensuring these construction companies can continue delivering the high standards of homes they are known for.” More supportive infrastructure, flexibility in planning, and incentives for sustainable, high-quality building practices are key improvements that could help these developers, she believes. “The future success of Christchurch’s housing market depends on enabling construction firms to operate efficiently within changing regulations, while ensuring that the needs of diverse buyers are met.” New homes are getting smaller, making better use of available space and becoming technologically more sophisticated, according to Richard Trent, whose company Trent Building Solutions is thriving in the challenging Christchurch market for new residences. With a client list covering a range of housing sectors, and including renovations, additions and insurance work, Trent Builders has grown out of the devastation caused by the 20102011 earthquakes to become a significant player in the city. The company is currently in the process of completing a pair of three-bedroom, two-bathroom stand-alone houses in the Christchurch suburb of Somerfield, while at the same time working extensively for the likes of Ryman Healthcare. Richard runs a staff of 20 tradespeople completing 15 or 16 projects a year, with Will Duncan serving as project manager. “We cover a lot of different sectors within the wider residential construction market, working under contract for a range of individual and corporate clients – a spread which has allowed us to keep our order books full despite the very obvious current downturn in the construction industry,” Richard says. “We haven’t really been affected greatly by the downturn, but we’re very aware of the state of the market and the importance of our versatility in responding to it.” While it doesn’t do spec housing, Trent Building Solutions offers its varied clients design services through its association with Christchurch firms MCD Architecture and Splice Designs. “There’s a clear trend in residential design for smaller houses, more intricately designed and with greatly improved technological elements such as central smart home computer systems, air-quality monitoring and purifiers, enhanced security and sustainable insulation, all of which require a wider range of skills from the builder,” Richard says. Like other builders he had a little trouble with labour shortages over the boom period of the short-lived recovery from the Covid epidemic, but the industry downturn has meant that “there is a lot more labour available now,” he says. Having a workforce that can turn itself to any project within the residential construction sector has ensured Trent Building’s survival during the worst of the recent downturn, and though Richard has yet to see the sprouting of any green shoots in the industry he’s confident it will happen. Proudly supporting Trent Building Solutions & the local community chris@thelocalelectrician.co.nz Christchurch Lincoln Rakaia Banks Peninsula
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