By South by Southeast Architects
The park-side setting has been embraced by carefully organising the 35 homes in clusters to let nature meander in and create viewpoints into the borrowed landscape. Thresholds between homes are curated through a balance of solid and permeable screening, hiding the more private spaces, while maintaining community connection elsewhere. This innovative response packs in Homestar 7 certification, collaborative integration of traditional Māori values, edible gardens, high thermal efficiency and a cohesive palette of robust and low- maintenance materials. Setting the standard of economic social housing, this compassionate, human-centric design demonstrates how well-crafted architecture can elevate the lives of those in need, while also growing a community.
South by Southeast’s designs are deeply rooted in the place they stand. As an award-winning South Island practice, our work seeks to enhance a sense of place – tūrangawaewae. Places where we feel especially empowered and connected. They are our foundation, our place in the world, our home. Our beautiful and innovative designs acknowledge the importance of identity and our relationship to others and the connection to our physical spaces we inhabit, whether natural or human-made.
We believe that the best design is not just aware of the environment for which it is designed, but also has a positive impact on it. We design all our architecture to have a long term benefit on the community it serves, with the smallest possible environmental impact on the land. Big impact, with a small footprint. We know the South, it's our home and our place of business. We fundamentally believe in strengthening our local region by providing future ready developments in the South Island and beyond.