Housing NZ development of 18 houses in Papatoetoe

The brief for the sites was to design low budget accommodation, which maximised density and ensured the best use of the site possible. Due to its close proximity to the town centre the site also qualified as an “Integrated Intensive Housing Zone,” which allowed for the possibility of medium density housing which the client was wanting.

Design concept

A narrow site primarily drove the footprint of the houses. From this, floor plans of the houses were worked out first to ensure they met with the requirements of the integrated housing guidelines. This gave emphasis to having a shared access way, kitchens at the front of the house with sufficient glazing to ensure they look over this access way, all living areas on the north, no bedrooms on south only facing walls, and separation of private playing areas to public access ways where cars may be present. White bevel back weatherboards were used, with larger horizontal weatherboards to contrast them and give the site a more modern aesthetically pleasing look. With restrictions on the floor plans and obviously keeping cost in mind, these unit designs became the best possible solution for the new developments.

Site Response

The proposal mimics its surroundings through the use of a long shared driveway to feed the units.

Driveways had been positioned on the south side of the site with all houses fronting it in order to each achieve private north facing backyards.  

Character

The form and materials of the units take ideas from the existing streetscape, integrating them with new and innovative forms in order for them to not only relate to their current context, but improve the street at the same time.