| 45 Healthier, warmer homes a passion for designer T Richard Loader Having over 20 years of experience as an architect in Europe and architectural designer in New Zealand, director Susanne Schade formed Architecta to provide energy efficient and sustainable solutions within New Zealand. Architecta ARCHITECTURE After an easy conversation with Christchurch architect, Susanne Schade, you are left in no doubt about her passion for designing homes that are warmer and healthier to live comfortably in, and which don’t need to break the budget. Susanne is adamant that everyone should have the opportunity to live in a warm and healthy home, saying that it will save all of us money if we don’t have to deal with the health issues resulting from living in drafty homes that are below World Health Organisation standards. “It will take us a long time to get there, but we should start now,” says Susanne. “Sticking to the building code maintains the legal requirements, but as a designer we have such an impact on other people’s lives. If I design a house, the client has to live with the consequences of my design. So, my passion is to get as many people as possible in healthier and warmer homes.” Susanne established her architectural practice in 2008, after emigrating from Germany in 2006. Initially focused on residential new builds and alterations, Susanne recognised the limitations of New Zealand’s Building Code and adjusted her focus to concentrate on designing homes that were energy efficient, warmer and healthier by stepping beyond the code in her very beautiful designs. “Many of the homes I design are smaller — perhaps two or three bedrooms. I can see there is a huge demand for smaller homes but there is not much on the market and many people want to downsize. With energy efficient houses you should try to keep the footprint simple. Designing a house to the client’s actual needs is also important.” Susanne explains that the journey to warmer, more energy efficient homes starts with 140mm x 45mm timber framing plus a 45mm service cavity which is used to run ducting and cables and overall provides more wall space for thicker insulation. It also allows for a continuous airtight layer, an important feature for energy efficient homes. “The airtight layer keeps the warmth inside of the house and we don’t have drafty houses. Because of the airtight layer, you need a heat recovery and ventilation system. “The heat recovery regains the heat from what has been produced inside the home and transfers it to the incoming fresh air from the outside. You have constant fresh air coming in that gets heated up through the stale, warm air leaving the house.” Recessing windows, so that the double glazing is in line with the wall insulation is another key contributor to warmer homes. “There are little things you can do to improve the performance of the house without spending too much money. “You’re living in warmer homes and have a healthy indoor environment provided by the heat recovery and ventilation system and you’re getting a constant temperature throughout the whole house. “There are much lower running costs, because you’re retrieving the heat and not losing it through the walls and windows. You do not have to go the full 100 yards and get a passive house. You can do a few things, which will give you a much better home in the future, and that is what people are looking for more and more.” Proudly building healthier homes for New Zealand living Phone 03 344 3126 www.nkwindows.co.nz Roofline Canterbury Ph 349 8439 · www.roofline.co.nz For all your roofing and cladding contact
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