| 101 Nature Build: Dyers Pass Road BUILDING Deal directly with the owner Competitive pricing guaranteed Specialists in all your house joinery Commercial Joinery Fit-outs PROUD TO SUPPORT NATURE BUILD 253 Lincoln Road, Addington. www.towerkitchens.co.nz ph - 03 3387846 | email: grant@towerjoinery.co.nz dcflooring.co.nz Timber | Carpet | Vinyl | Concrete Grinding T T Kelly Deeks Cost-efficient and energy-efficient The house is designed around energy efficiency, airtightness, insulation, ventilation, and solar power. Christchurch builder, David Plihal, is taking a practical approach to high- performance housing, developing his own Smart Build system to deliver warmer, more efficient homes without the cost and complexity of formal passive house certification. David, the Nature Build owner and a licensed building practitioner, has applied the system to a new home on Dyers Pass Road in Cashmere, a standalone house being built on a steep site with extensive retaining. The house is designed around energy efficiency, airtightness, insulation, ventilation, and solar power, with David drawing on more than a decade in the building industry, and experience working alongside Simon Fenwick of Nest Residential. David says the Smart Build system has evolved through building townhouses, standalone homes, and passive homes, allowing him to test different products and construction methods and understand how they perform in real homes. “We have seen the mistakes, and we have seen the successes in the performance of the houses,” he says. The system includes 140mm exterior insulation, LVL timber, and a carefully sealed building envelope, with the walls wrapped from inside and outside to create an airtight structure. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery can then provide fresh air while reducing heat loss, while solar systems are being incorporated into every one of the company’s builds. David has developed different levels of Smart Build, allowing clients to choose the level of performance that suits their needs and budget. He says the approach gives clients a clear picture of how their home will perform, including likely running costs and maintenance requirements, as well as an indication of its value. The Dyers Pass Rd client wanted a high-quality home in a sought-after Cashmere location that could also work as an investment property, with low ongoing ownership costs and the potential to provide good income in the future. David says Smart Build sits alongside the principles of passive house, but is designed to be more accessible. “Passive house certification is quite a reach for many people,” he says. “I think this is what the market is looking for. People want a good house, high quality, low power bills, and something they can actually be proud of.” David’s relationship with Simon began when he worked as a builder for Nest Residential, and the pair went on to explore ways of improving the performance of residential construction. That work has continued through joint townhouse developments, while David is also developing three of his own properties on Jollie Street near Eastgate Mall. The four- and five-bedroom townhouses each have their own bathroom, while permeable concrete driveways are being used to reduce the need for conventional stormwater retention tanks. David’s interest in efficient, sustainable construction is reflected in his own developments, as well as the renovations, fencing, decking, general carpentry, and tiny houses on wheels that he builds between larger projects. His Czech Republic background has also influenced his approach. He grew up with European building standards and a climate with hot summers and cold winters, giving him an early appreciation of how building performance can affect comfort and energy use. Nature Build’s name reflects David’s wider philosophy, with the company focused on using materials and building methods that are better suited to the environment and future generations. “I’m trying to do the best I can in my time,” he says. “I want to build homes that are efficient, comfortable, good quality, and better for the environment, without making high-performance building something that is out of reach for people.” “I want to build homes that are efficient, comfortable, good quality, and better for the environment, without making high-performance building something that is out of reach for people.” Ready to bring your landscape vision to life? Landscape/Excavate Landscaping construction • Excavation, site work and development • Car parks and driveways • Retaining walls 027 829 6576 charles@paveart.co.nz
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