| 61 T T Russell Fredric Hempcrete home standout in Wanaka Above: a Wanaka home made with hempcrete - hemp is one of the most sustainable building materials, carbon negative with a high insulation value, and one of nature’s strongest fibres. Below, high-end home in Mosgiel. Keiron O’Connell Architecture ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN For Keiron O’Connell Architecture, (KOA) getting to the heart of a client’s wants and needs is a key part to the first steps of creating a design that will become a dream home. Owner Keiron O’Connell has built his Invercargill-based practice with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, with himself and two other designers offering clients a wide range of experience, including the ability to project manage any builds. Keiron started the practice in 2016 having previously studied in London, gaining an architecture degree with honours at London Metropolitan University After gaining work experience in England that included design and development in the housing, hotel and leisure sector, specialising in sustainability, Keiron returned to New Zealand and worked as an eco-design advisor and building inspector for the Invercargill City Council before establishing KOA. It was interesting to him to see design and construction methods and systems that have taken some time to filter through to New Zealand as well as the huge difference in the scale of the industry between the two countries, Keiron says. “I’m quite interested in taking what I’ve learnt from overseas and getting it to work in New Zealand.” There has been a general tendency for houses in New Zealand to be built to the minimum building code standard, however Keiron believes there is a new generation of builders who are passionate about building to higher standards, including for greater energy efficiency and sustainability. KOA have been commissioned to design houses throughout New Zealand as well as a complex zero emissions home in Milwaukee in the United States. Projects its team have brought their experience to includes two very different builds; one is a two level, four unit high-end apartment in Invercargill designed for an investor, and the other a Wanaka house constructed with hempcrete. The two story, four bedroom Wanaka house blends elements of form and function and, along with its amazing views, provides its occupants with warmth, style, and durability. Used for centuries, hemp is one of the most sustainable building materials, carbon negative with a high insulation value, and one of nature’s strongest fibres. Hempcrete is made from mulched hemp hurds (the woody inner parts of hemp stalks), water and a lime-based binder, mixed to form a slurry which is then put into formwork. It can be used as an insulation and cladding system in one without the need for a vapour barrier or other insulation and is a natural humidity and temperature regulator. KOA is an associated designer of the Hemp Building Association of New Zealand, and was runner-up in the 2020 international Structural Insulated Panel Association building excellence award for a high performance two-level Mosgiel home built with SIPs panels. KOA designed one of New Zealand’s first hempcrete houses, built in Wanaka three years ago. The Invercargill apartment was designed for a builder/investor and is a two level structure to maximise the return on the section. “It is a contemporary timber frame build in the heart of Invercargill. Beautifully finished with painted render and vertical metal, alongside double glazed windows and fully glazed balustrades to create the warm, high-end look house our clients deserve.” Facilitating best practise through training to raise the standard of Central heating Certificated Underfloor Heating (UFH) Installer courses Supporting Keiron O’Connell Architecture www.nzich.nz Plumbing Electrical Gastting Drainlaying Solar PV Power & Hot Water Heating & Ventilation Heat Pumps 20 Bay Rd, Invercargill PHONE 03 21 57077 www.pbsnz.com Plumbers & Building Services Ltd We supply Electrical & Heating for Keiron O’Connell Architecture
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