A Smarter Solution For Auckland Housing Crisis

Press Release, for immediate release, March 25, 2013

A Smarter Solution For Auckland Housing Crisis

As Auckland Council and central government continue to seek solutions to what has been deemed a pending Auckland housing crisis, one of the country’s longest established building products company says part of the solution is almost built already.

The Smarter Small Home concept is a project developed by James Hardie, in combination with design firm Creative Arch.

On a Papakura site, just 20 minutes from central Auckland, will be the first Smarter Small Home show home, being built by building company Latitude Homes. Soon after, there will be many other show homes around the country, with the second show home off the ranks currently under construction by Milestone Homes in Ellerslie, Auckland.

On April 13 the first showhome will be revealed to the public, and it’s already attracting plenty of interest from prospective homeowners and the building community.

The new construction techniques and innovative architectural design means the property can be sited on a section of less than 350 square metres, making maximum use of available new land, while also being ideal for intensification of existing properties.

This breakthrough property has been effected through collaboration with Creative Arch, who were tasked with creating a home which made the best possible use of standard material specifications, while also optimising technology advances to ensure those building materials are not just cost-efficient, they are also energy-efficient and ecologically sound.

Merv Giam, marketing manager for James Hardie, says recent newspaper articles have highlighted the shortfall in currently available sections, as well as the need for affordable housing,economies of scale in the building industry and a reduction in compliance and building costs.

Merv says the days of the quarter-acre section may be gone for most Aucklanders, but the dream of owning their own piece of land in the City of Sails is one which many still aspire to.

“Our team has long recognised the increasing cost of sections, and the need to maximise use of existing land. Smaller section sizes means best use of new developments, but the Smarter Small Home will still allow green space for the family.

“This means families can be part of one of the world’s most liveable cities, while still having a yard for the kids to play in, in a home which is low-maintenance, offers long terms savings in energy usage, makes fantastic use of ambient light and heating, and has been designed from the ground up to make best use of standard material sizings,” Merv adds.

“Auckland Council itself has noted the city could need up to 13,000 more dwellings each year over the next 25 years, which will require substantially more section space than is currently available. The Smarter Small Home, able to be sited on a smaller section than a traditional single level three-bedroom property, is ideal for cross-leasing, intensive subdivision, or construction in existing developments.

“With the Smarter Small Home, we have, in partnership with the teams at Creative Arch and established building companies, done something revolutionary in home building. We have taken as a starting point our manufacturing processes, and then applied those economies to the architecture.

“James Hardie building products offer long-term durability, major cost savings in medium to long term maintenance costs, and, importantly, meet earthquake standards as a lightweight building material.”

Auckland Council have formulated a series of proposals to deal with the needs of a growing city over coming years, among them a combination of ‘up and out’ – moving away from single level dwellings, intensifying existing brownfields developments, and increasing Greenfield opportunities in designated rural regions.

“The Smarter Small Home ticks all the boxes,” Merv points out.

But there are other benefits too.

Smarter design reduces waste, cuts down on labour costs and preparation of materials.

Latitude Homes’ Marc Hunter says the James Hardie Smarter Small Home concept offers the best of all worlds.

“The build time is reduced because the home is designed around standard material sizings, but that doesn’t mean you get a ‘house out of a box’,” Marc says. “The Smarter Small Home is something new, and everyone we have had on site – even while we are still building it – has said it has the ‘wow’ factor that makes it something very special.

“The use of James Hardies building products throughout means not only peace of mind performance, but any colour can be used on the exterior without any worries about warping or fading, the use of James Hardie’s Scyon Secura flooring means no squeaks, Villaboard provides high impact and performance in moisture resistance in wet areas, and Rawform and Scyon Stria claddings used in the lounge to add texture and an extra dimension to the interior.

The first Smarter Small Home in New Zealand will open in Papakura on April 13, with spot prizes and special draws for visitors. It’s a home which meets the requirements of the modern world, and which provides homeowners with something which meets every requirement; functionality, ecological responsibility, financial soundness, longevity, and, perhaps most importantly, stylishness in a world of houses which, until now, seem cast from the same mould.

“There are so many features in this home, it’s hard to summarise them all,” Marc says, “but essentially it offers open living areas, phenomenal use of storage space, fabulous use of ambient light and the design creates the feel of a far larger living space.

“It’s called the Smarter Small Home for a reason – it is simply smarter.”

See for yourself why James Hardie are so excited to bring the home building revolution to Auckland this year. For a preview of what is coming to the New Zealand home scene, visit the website at www.smartersmallhome.co.nz

ENDS

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