Contact and Overview

Contact:
Tim Bishop, tim@shac.org.nz, 021 705 346
Private Bag 1910
Dunedin 9054

The Sustainable Habitat Challenge (SHAC) is proof that more sustainable living is practical today.

In early 2008, SHAC teams were issued a challenge – to create a home that requires fewer resources, produces less waste, represents value for money and supports a sustainable community. They were asked to design, fund and construct their project, and complete their work by November 2009.

It was an ambitious proposal – embraced with vision and passion across the country. Teams worked together creating buildings, retrofits and new products to support desirable, more sustainable living. Teams included a tertiary institution and included students, professionals, tradespeople, educators, iwi, local authorities, community housing representatives, and others.

Altogether, ten teams entered, resulting in eight new builds and retrofits. Their work reflects a range of approaches to sustainability – from a bolt-on plant room for high-rise apartments through to a mud and flax earth home designed for a rural Māori community. Values such as resourcefulness, practicality, beauty and social wellbeing were celebrated. Some projects focused on making the most of conventional building techniques to make sustainability a natural part of everyday life.

And while the features of the buildings and the philosophies of sustainability are highlights of the challenge, they are by no means the full story. Behind each project is a team, some of whose participants had never met prior to embarking on their work. They not only found common ground through their interests, but were able to turn their thinking into action – creating real, physical examples of options for more sustainable living.

We now all have the benefit of this work. The social benefits have, in some instances, been striking – they include healthier homes for Housing New Zealand residents, and buildings auctioned for charity. Meanwhile, all teams have documented their ideas and allowed these to be available to both the public and the industry for the future.

The creation, sharing and gifting of knowledge are the lasting outcomes of this challenge.

TEAM CANTERBURY - New timber-framed home. Less glass, ceiling-height doorways and smart lighting - engineers and builders join forces to make better use of conventional building techniques. Affordability is key. >>>

WHAREUKU - New 3-bedroom earthen house. Embracing the philosophies of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and “sweat equity”, Whareuku has created a low-cost, flax-fibre reinforced earthen housing solution for rural Māori communities. >>>

TE HIRA WHANAU BACH 101 - Retrofit bach. This modern refit of a classic bach emphasises recycling and a low-energy, do-it-yourself lifestyle to recapture the simple beauty of Kiwi holidays. >>>

TEAM CENTRAL OTAGO - New straw bale home. High-spec straw bale eco home for Finnish client. Maximizing the use of natural, renewable and salvaged materials. >>>

TEAM HOUSEWISE - Retrofit state house. Demonstrates a sustainable renovations package for upgrading Housing New Zealand properties. Includes family-friendly ideas designed by the home’s tenant. To be monitored over the following year. >>>

UNITEC ECOCRIB - New build bach and interiors (design only). From cladding to furniture and light fittings – product designers and builders collaborate to design an efficient, healthy bach-style home. >>>

TEAM WAIKATO - New build timber-panel sleepout. Adding on? Add in! A relocatable onebedroom energy-efficient unit home adds value to backyards. >>>

TEAM DUNEDIN - New timber-framed home. this stylish home is "normal" as possible. Proof that more sustainable living is within everyone’s reach today. >>>

THE PLANT ROOM - Extension for inner-city apartment. Prefabricated bolt-on room providing space to grow food, generate energy, collect rainwater and manage waste. Designed for high-intensity housing, or attachments to office blocks. >>>