| 83 Modular homes for NZ conditions T T Richard Loader Modulo Homes are energy efficient and can be transported anywhere in conventional trucks to keep the transportation costs affordable. BUILDING Central Otago: Modulo Lindsay & Dixon Southland Beech is a sustainably managed, certified native timber grown in western Southland. Southland Maple Beech is New Zealand’s only FSC certified, sustainable native timber. Its beauty is intertwined with the history of New Zealand’s landless natives and is a source of architectural inspiration for projects wishing to claim authenticity and create culturally sensitive, iconic residential and commercial buildings. Proudly supplying Modulo Limited with high quality, sustainable beech timber. 9 Main Road, Tuatapere, Southland | 03 2266 059 | www.lindix.co.nz | sales@lindix.co.nz From the beautiful environs of Cromwell, Central Otago, something very special and exciting is happening in the world of modular prefabricated homes. Aptly named Modulo, the company is producing beautifully crafted modular homes that have been architecturally designed for New Zealand condition with a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency and using the natural resources of Aotearoa. Modulo is the brainchild of Mariano Croce, a passionate entrepreneur hailing from Buenos Aires, who successfully created a similar business before immigrating with his family to New Zealand. Arriving in New Zealand just two weeks before the first COVID lockdown in 2020, Mariano used that lockdown-time to engage with architects through zoom meetings “I said this was my idea, this is what I want to do. I asked them to create house designs that could be built in a modular way and then transported in conventional trucks to keep the transportation costs affordable. “A month ago we delivered our first home, and now have one more building complete. That one is going to be relocated to a beautiful ocean spot in Colac Bay, near Riverton. Both homes were designed by Hofmans Architects Ltd. In the last 18 months I have provided over 400 quotes for projects. People are very interested in what we are doing.” Aesthetics complemented with energy efficiency are key features of any of the Modulo designs. “The building envelope is always high performing and must comply with the New Zealand Green Building Council, Homestar rating. The R values of the insulation are always above the New Zealand Building Code. We also feature New Zealand’s natural materials. “This is important, and insulation is a key example. In New Zealand we have sheep everywhere and there are just a few building companies using woollen insulation. It’s more expensive but it’s natural, it dries better and performs better, and the product comes from New Zealand. “Solid beech flooring comes from Southland, and we use New Zealand plywood. For the cladding, we use Abodo, which is high performing timber product from New Zealand and the best quality you can have in cladding.” While Modulo offers a wide range of architectural designs for clients to select from, every design is highly customisable to ensure the finished product meets the clients’ needs and circumstances. “The client could also bring their own design to us,” says Mariano. “We don’t have to use our own designs. We had a showhome, but this was recently sold and relocated into a local farm and will used it as a guesthouse. From time-to-time there may be an opportunity to take people to this home, but I’ve found that people want to visit the construction site to see what we are building, and the materials we are using. So we prefer to see our clients in the yard.” Modulo’s markets are very diverse, ranging from people looking for a holiday home right through to larger developments with multiple units on side — but the three values of aesthetics, high performance and locally sourced natural materials are always common. “We provide an all-encompassing turnkey solution. We offer a fixed price and a fixed delivery timeframe and manage the building consent application, engineering, supply of materials and build the house in our construction site. “It makes me feel happy to be part of something so important; that is building better houses that will be used in the community for another fifty plus years.”
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