60 | ARCHITECTURE Architype: Toiora Co-housing Development T T Kim Newth Leaders in sustainable co-housing Toiora Cohousing has been entirely led and developed by a group of residents – with no developer involvement – and is New Zealand’s first certified multi-unit passive house project. Ōtepoti Dunedin is home to one of the country’s most innovative co-housing projects. Toiora Cohousing by Architype is an award winning neighbourhood that demonstrates just how much can be achieved from a medium density site when residents’ quality of life and sustainability are the guiding design priorities. On the edge of the central city green belt, Toiora Cohousing has been entirely led and developed by a group of residents – with no developer involvement – and is Aotearoa’s first certified multi-unit passive house project. As well as winning a Multi-Unit Housing Award at the 2023 Southern Architecture Award, this inspiring project has been shortlisted in the New Zealand Architecture Awards. Other partners on the design and build team with Architype were eHaus, Stevenson & Williams Ltd, Sur Architecture and Sustainable Engineering. The awards’ jury praised the project’s considered spatial planning and no fuss modular design approach, noting that: ‘this project goes beyond award winning architecture and promotes environmental and social innovation.’ Architype director Tim Ross, the project’s lead architect, was already experienced in passive house architecture when he first discussed the concept with a group of locals interested in creating an affordable, sustainable co-housing development in Dunedin. “They were really enthusiastic and decided this was something they wanted,” says Tim. “It is one of the real benefits of a group approach to housing as it allows much more scope for innovation compared to a standard development.” By designing to the passive house standard, space heating demand has been hugely reduced. With an innovative hot water heat pump system, induction cooking and energy efficient lighting – and with all units triple glazed, very well insulated and fitted with mechanical heat recovery systems - these top performing homes offer an exceptionally comfortable, healthy and economical way of life. It has been 10 years since the residents’ group purchased their 5000sqm former High Street Primary School site. The central location is ideal, with a bus stop right outside and close to a supermarket, small suburban shopping centre and local parks. The group development approach allowed for greater housing density while making best use of available space to create a shared, sheltered central green space. There are 24 homes of various sizes, grouped in two timber-framed blocks with a three-storey block along the High Street boundary and a smaller two-storey block along Alva Street. An existing school building on the site has been repurposed to provide shared facilities, including guest rooms, common laundry, a common workshop, and a shared commercial kitchen. For the past two years, Tim and wife Phillippa and their four boys and dog have been enjoying life as part of the Toiora Co-housing community in their three-storey home on the High Street boundary. T T to page 62 FIRE ENGINEERING SERVICES • Fire design for Building Consent • Verification Method fire design • Acceptable fire design Solutions • Design Specification • Specialist Fire Solutions • Construction Monitoring Email: nimish@fdsolutions.co.nz | Phone: 03 470 1079 | Mobile: 021 0250 8740 www.fdsolutions.co.nz contractors of choice Painters & Decorators JAMES WREN & CO LTD Proud to work with Architype 50 Carroll Street | PH: 03 477 9384 | www.wrens.co.nz EST 1896 • Painting, Decorating • ProgrammedMaintenance • Tiling • Textured Coating • Solid Plastering • Specialist Coating “It is one of the real benefits of a group approach to housing as it allows much more scope for innovation compared to a standard development.”
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