14 | Clyde Orchards: Worker Accommodation Development T T Richard Loader Home away from home for RSE crew Clyde Orchards has taken inspiration from a traditional Vanuatuan meeting house to create a 10-room accommodation facility on-site for its RSE workers. “The exterior material palette blends harmoniously with the Central Otago landscape, while the interior features rich timber paneling and accents of blue, inspired by the traditional lava lava fabric.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T to page 16 Clyde Orchards has taken inspiration from a traditional Vanuatuan meeting house to create a 10-room accommodation facility on-site for its RSE workers. Designed by Robert Paulin, architect and son of orchard owner Kevin Paulin, in collaboration with Shepherd & Rout Architects and Meyer Cruden, and built by Breen Construction, the new residential development will be ready for the next summer crew that arrives later in the year. The entire building has been created as the powerhouse of the surrounding orchard block, entirely run by photovoltaic panels to support the Cravo greenhouse of export cherries. The 30kw system feeds into the grid which makes surplus power that they can sell back to the market. Robert involved the RSE team in the plans, particularly the colour scheme, which was an important reflection of their home and culture. “The exterior material palette blends harmoniously with the Central Otago landscape, while the interior features rich timber paneling and accents of blue, inspired by the traditional lava lava fabric.” He says the orchard management continuously sought ways to enhance and dignify the RSE experience for the crew, since they first started coming to Clyde Orchards 17 years ago. “The brief was to design a space that provided a sense of belonging and ownership, which is often missing in typical worker accommodation across New Zealand. “The Ni-Van crew is integral to Clyde Orchards’ operations, and their temporary home should reflect that importance.” Inside the accommodation, you can tell every detail has been intentionally designed to appreciate the Vanuatuan culture and life working on the orchard. The layout encourages communal living and dining, with a well-equipped double kitchen and large chiller, while the separate bedroom wing ffers a quieter personal space. Orchard manager Kris Robb says the brief was for something that was economic to build, easy to clean and robust that would stand up and be durable.
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