Business South June 2021

78 | BUILDING Canterbury - Nest Residential Developing for a sustainable future T Kim Newth Nest Residential is focused on building warmer, healthier and more efficient townhouses. O n a recent drive with Addington-based developer Simon Fenwick through his home suburb – recently ranked the most liveable in New Zealand – it is clear that a shift to higher density housing is changing the way people live in this part of Christchurch. He and fellow developer Mark Teesdale, of Nest Residential, see higher density as a positive pathway to achieving a vibrant and prosperous future for the city - but only if it’s done right. To this end, they formed Nest Res- idential in 2014 and set about building warm- er, healthier and more efficient townhouses than any other developer in New Zealand at a reasonable cost. Addington first caught Simon’s eye as a place of exciting potential in the 1990s. He started renovating and updating old homes, in what was then a rundown suburb, with features like hi-spec double glazed uPVC join- ery, proper insulation, airtight building wraps and solar panels. In 2004, he started working with Mark, who was also a landscape archi- tect. Both were property investors working in Addington. “Then the earthquakes came along and it meant that all of a sudden we had these badly damaged properties that had to be rebuilt. “We used a builder and designer the first time, then realised we could do better than most developers. “I’d lived in Europe where they really give a lot of thought to insulation, security and having good density. In fact, in Paris there are 84 houses per hectare compared to less than 20 here.” Nest Residential has brought many residen- tial developments to the Christchurch market with an emphasis on high performance at an affordable price point. Buyers have been quick to snap them up, from first home buyers to professional cou- ples and retirees. Simon leads concepts and business oversight, while Mark keeps an eye on the numbers and admin. A member of the Superhome Movement, Nest Residential supports the movement’s aspirational goals to raise New Zealand’s building standards and thereby improve the health and well-being of New Zealanders. Key features in Nest homes include: airtight construction using high quality Europe- an interior and exterior wraps to create a draught-free, warm interior; smart heating and hot water, with a single heat pump used to heat space and water and thereby slashing heating costs; Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) to provide a constant supply of fresh warm air; high standard uPVC joinery including triple locking, thermally broken, tilt and turn European standard windows and smart sliders; foundation insulation to boost thermal performance; better garages, lined with ply and with a connection for electric car charging; and modern styling and appliances including Parmco/Bosch appliances, Methven taps and fittings, fully tiled bathrooms, stone bench tops, and Euroblinds. A MasterBuild guarantee is available on every Nest home. “I’d lived in Europe where they really give a lot of thought to insulation, security and having good density.” With triple locking doors and windows, along with alarm systems, these homes are also very secure. Simon says security considerations should be considered as an essential part of good home design, especially in urban high density areas. In Addington, Nest townhouses are a real stand-out. Simon lives in one with his partner and exercises the same level of care on each new home as if it were his own. Exterior materials and colours are thought- fully selected, not just to look good but to perform well in New Zealand conditions. All townhouses are individually styled and designed around the site. Anything that may need to be repainted in future is readily acces- sible from ground level. Windows and doors are recessed into the building envelope. Balco- nies are designed for privacy and driveways are generously proportioned. The list goes on. Nest’s most recent townhouse devel- opments are in Riccarton (Peverel St) and Addington, with the same high performance standards in play. “We’re finding that people in Nest town- houses are now coming back to us saying ‘if we move again we want you to build it’,” says Simon, who is also busy with various build- ing projects in Pegasus, Wanaka and in the Waikato. Proud to be associated with Nest Residential 027 433 4956 | www.cbgcontracting.co.nz