Our idea with this project was never to build houses to sell (we are architects, not developers), but to turn our design ability and our long-standing relationships with suppliers into an affordable housing solution for low-income families. That the Living House is embodied carbon-zero certified is simply icing on the cake.
So how does it work? For $10,000 RTA Studio will provide a set of detailed, pre-consented plans - a multi-proof document that is accepted by councils across Aotearoa. A builder will then have access to our ‘how-to’ guide and be provided with a unique ordering code for pre-negotiated rates on the materials, fixtures and fittings. These arrive flat-packed and include a slot-together CLT panel system and prefabricated modules that ensures a build period of 6-7 weeks, reducing labour costs to around $30,000-$40,000.
The house we are almost finished building in Rotorua is theory come to fabulous fruition. The three-bedroom home, delivered at a cost of $333,000 (incl GST), is unapologetically no-frills. We like to call it the Toyota Corolla of houses. In a world where value engineering often falls prey to aesthetic sensibilities, this is naked design: the form has emerged on the foundations of affordability and sustainability. But scale, proportion and a judicious use of colour elevates Living House – cost-free attributes that make all the difference.
There is sublime simplicity in the building’s gabled shape that references the whare, shed, fale and villa vernacular, placing it squarely in Oceania. Inside, a four-metre stud in the four-metre-wide living area gives a sense of spaciousness, clerestories stretch into the apex to let in more light and the cross-laminated timber walls lend warmth and character.
Indications are that Living House has already captured the attention of ministers, local government, iwi and community-group providers. But it will equally appeal to first homeowners. In the coming months, a series of events will showcase the prototype. On Friday, 11th of April, an open-day, to be attended by politicians and the national media, will be a real celebration: the culmination of years of strategising and design refinement coming to maturity.
Solving a housing crisis doesn’t happen overnight, but we are hopeful that Living House is a step in the right direction.
For more detail, read about Living House here (rtastudio.co.nz/journal/full-steam-ahead-on-the-living-house) or follow us on Instagram at livinghouse.nz