| 77 T T Kelly Deeks Healthier homes a design priority His portfolio now includes several award-winning high-performance homes. KO Architecture ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN KO Architecture is pushing sustainable design into new territory, delivering ultra-healthy, low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) and carbon-negative homes at a time when indoor air quality and environmental performance are becoming critical considerations for New Zealand homeowners. Founder and architectural designer Keiron O’Connell says the practice has spent the past decade refining a design approach centred on natural materials, zero off-gassing, and exceptional thermal performance. His portfolio now includes several award-winning high-performance homes, including a regional ADNZ award for a no-VOC Swiss chalet in Wānaka, and a SIPA International Award runner-up for energy efficiency. “Low-VOC and carbon-negative design is still new for a lot of people,” Keiron says. “But the evidence is clear. Any glue, paint, chemical or treated timber releases gases once it reaches room temperature. Many are carcinogenic and have been linked to asthma and other respiratory issues. A home should never make you sick.” His interest in VOC-free design began personally. While living in England, his young daughter suffered from severe eczema aggravated by radiator heating and poor indoor air quality. That experience drove him to study sustainability at university in the UK, eventually shaping his design philosophy. Keiron now specifies natural, untreated, or heat-treated materials wherever possible, including hempcrete, cedar, macrocarpa, cork insulation, wool insulation free from chemical binders, and heat-treated timber in place of H1.2 chemical treatments. “These materials breathe, regulate moisture, provide excellent thermal performance, and support a healthy home environment,” he says. One of the practice’s most ambitious lowVOC builds is the award-winning 740sqm timber Swiss chalet in Wānaka. Constructed from massive Douglas fir and Western Red Cedar beams pre-milled in British Columbia, the home marries alpine-style architecture with a strict no-chemicals brief. It features natural wool insulation imported from Austria, cork layers replacing polystyrene in the slab, and untreated timbers finished with natural oils. Solar panels power the home, while high thermal mass and passive solar design keep energy use low. ADNZ judges praised the chalet’s precision detailing, material integrity, and commitment to longevity, noting its chemical-free environment and the craftsmanship underpinning every element. Keiron says homes like this also require a willingness to look outside New Zealand for suitable materials. “Many local products rely heavily on glues and chemical treatments. For some projects, we’ve had to import insulation, wall systems, and even large-span beams because the lowVOC options just aren’t made here. “But the result is a home that performs for generations.” He has seen growing industry interest since presenting at the annual Architectural Designers New Zealand conference, where his session on carbon-negative materials, particularly hempcrete, generated strong engagement. One client became so invested in the material that he has since launched a hempcrete binder company, GeoBind. Despite increasing awareness, Keiron says only a small proportion of New Zealand architects and builders fully understand VOC impacts. “At that talk, out of 300 people only a handful knew what VOCs were. We’re still catching up to European standards, where low- or zero-VOC construction has become normal.” As demand for healthier, more sustainable homes increases, Keiron continues to advocate for natural materials, high-performance design, and long-term thinking. “People spend a third or more of their lives inside their homes. Faster and cheaper isn’t always better. A well-designed, chemical-free home protects your health, your family, and the environment, and can look incredible too.” NZ Leaders in Waterproofing Every Aspect Of Our Business Is Dedicated To Waterproofing – Our Products, Systems, Methods And Services 5/18 Taurus Place, Christchurch • 2/55 Ash Rd, Wiri, Auckland Ph: 0508 SEALCO (292837) • admin@sealco.co.nz • www.sealco.co.nz Sealco Ltd Proud to be Associated with Keiron O'Connell Architecture Proudly supporting Keiron O'Connell Architecture Heating & Ventilation Electrical Plumbing Heat Pumps Gas-fitting Solar PV Power & Hot Water Drainlaying 20 Bay Rd, Invercargill PHONE 03 21 57077 Southland & Lakes Districts www.pbsnz.com CORSON CONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTS IN HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE HOMES. NEW HOMES, RENOVATIONS, SHEDS & MORE. Sam 027 527 6076 - sam@corsonconstructionltd.co.nz New Zealand Certified Builders Association CB LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONERS Building confidence
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=