Building Smarter on Slopes: Compact, Sustainable Architecture in Christchurch
An opportunity to downsize — and a shift in thinking — has resulted in a compact, high-performing home on a steep Christchurch hillside, making a bold statement in small home living and sustainable architecture.
Aaron Jones of Urban Function Architecture specialises in designing innovative hillside homes across Christchurch and Canterbury. He embraces the principles of small home living: reducing the footprint of traditionally large New Zealand homes and investing those savings into higher performance, smarter design, and quality materials.
When Aaron's client began questioning whether he truly needed to rebuild his large 1980s earthquake-damaged home 'like for like' under his insurance policy, Aaron provided clever architectural solutions for the challenging bedrock site on the steep lower slopes of Mt Pleasant, Christchurch — significantly reducing the home's footprint.
'The client realised a 260m² replacement home far exceeded his needs. We could achieve something much more suitable for less cost,' Aaron explains. 'In addition, the client, a passionate tramper and bushwalker, wanted a strong connection with nature — a feeling of being in a bush cabin.'
The compact, energy-efficient home uses affordable materials in beautiful and thoughtful ways. For example, the exterior is clad in knotty-grade cedar — an appropriate response to the rustic, 'back-to-nature' brief — which also resulted in a 50 per cent cost saving on cladding. The rugged, character-filled finish stands proudly in a neighbourhood of sleek, modern rebuilds.
Inside, Aaron specified large-span cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panels, reducing piling requirements by 50 per cent and saving significantly on time, labour, and materials. Rather than covering the floors, the team left the natural pine finish exposed, enhancing durability with multiple coats of polyurethane.
Aaron says the smaller footprint and challenging slope inspired a different approach to light, volume, and connection with the landscape.
'Large skylights pour natural light into the entry hallway and bathroom. Everywhere you look, there’s a window — whether it's a small floor window framing greenery or an expansive view to the coast. Good design makes small spaces feel much larger by increasing volume, enhancing natural light, and connecting with the outdoors.'
Aaron is seeing growing interest from New Zealanders in building smarter, more efficient homes rather than simply larger ones.
'I think it’s partly out of necessity — rising land and construction costs — but also a change in mindset. More people are recognising the long-term benefits of high-performance homes and becoming more flexible in how they use space.'
'When we reduce a house’s footprint, we can invest more into performance — achieving higher energy efficiency, embracing smart technologies, and applying clever construction techniques.'
Interested in designing a sustainable, high-performing hillside home in Christchurch?
Visit Aaron’s [ADNZ profile] for more examples of his award-winning architectural work.
http://www.defign.co.nz/blog/high-up-performer#.Whc0uK2B0UE