52 | ARCHITECTURE Team Green Architects T T Rosa Watson Placing efficiency at the forefront Passive houses have high quality windows and thermal bridge free design, airtight construction and heat recovery ventilation. A Queenstown architect has set about changing the way we build our homes with an energy efficient Passive House approach. Team Green Architects build precisely designed homes with efficiency at the forefront using the Passive House approach. Owners Siân Taylor and Mark Read started the firm after years working for other companies and realising there was a better way to do things. “One of the main reasons we started the company was we wanted to show how things could be done better and done differently,” Siân said. “We wanted to show you could create beautiful buildings while making them comfortable, energy efficient.” Being from the United Kingdom, Siân said she had been “kind of shocked” by the standard of construction in New Zealand. “The fact that people were living in really cold houses and the fact that there was a lot of water and condensation within homes.” “It’s just that the homes were inadequate to the climate. “Then when you work in architecture, you see what’s happening because you see behind the scenes.” She noticed that insulation was “almost an afterthought”. She became one of the first architects to train as a Passive House architect through a German lecturer at UniTec, after being introduced to the approach by an engineer who had a passion for it. “I just decided to do it and as soon as I did it, I thought, yep, … this is how we are going to change.” The firm works predominantly on largescale residential projects but has also been involved in multi-unit developments, and educational facilities and smaller commercial buildings. Building a more sustainable home did not have to be expensive, Siân said. “The things that costs the least make the biggest difference.” Orientation of the house was key, and designing a simple plan that would use less energy. “These sorts of things don’t cost anything, and they make the biggest difference.” She said urban design played a big part in creating more energy efficient homes. For example, having sections facing the right way and putting the street or road on the south side. “Then you are going to have the ability to have the sun on the north side.” Most clients were keen to pursue a Passive House approach. “Most people come to us because they want to create something that is better. “We’ve never had anyone that hasn’t wanted to do it.” She said it was gathering momentum in the industry. “Everybody knows about it now within the industry.” Changes to the building code have also helped to improve construction quality. “We’ve still got a very long way to go (but) it’s making a significant step in the right direction.” Passive Houses have three main principles; they are highly insulated, which includes high quality windows and thermal bridge free design; airtight construction; and heat recovery ventilation. “The amount of insulation you use is specific to the design of the building and its climate,” Siân said. Architects access specific data from local weather stations to assist decision-making, and also consider altitude and shading of a site. “All these sorts of things (impact) how much the building is losing heat because of its design. “The outcome is that you have a building that meets the threshold of energy usage. When you are insulating to the climate you are doing it within the Passive House software, which demonstrates if you are reaching that target or not.” Window frames and glazing were also important factors, and these days there were far more options on the market. She said not every house the company designed achieved Passive House status for various reasons, but around 20 per cent went the whole way. “It depends on the client’s brief and how far they want to go. It’s not always a cost thing … more they’ve got other things they want.” Team Green currently have a variety of projects underway across the region - they are working with Chris Arnold Building on a low energy apartment complex along Frankton Road, in Queenstown. This impressive build is comprised of 4 different units. Team Green is also working with YBL Building on two different residential projects in Dalefield. All of which include the important passive house principals. PROUDLY SUPPORT I NG TEAM GREEN ARCH I TECTS LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONERS Building confidence Quality workmanship. Dream homes. +64 21 144 1265 info@chrisarnoldbuilding.com
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