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Sustainable Design 

Sustainable design placing importance on the environment, both internal and external to build a healthier, dryer and warm interior environment are key considerations when looking to build. When approaching any new house build or renovation our architectural designers place importance on universal design, creating a home that is built to last a lifetime and for any circumstance in life.
Our team are skilled in calculating the thermal envelope of the building and can advise on changes to decrease heat loss and advise on improvements to the homes interior environment. We are experienced Homestar Designers and Assessors in both design rating and built ratings. We can assess and predict operational carbon emissions before the house is built to help determine the running costs of the home and can calculate the carbon emissions of the build materials.

Call us today for Homestar and Healthy Homes, Design and Draughting advice.

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Designing to Homestar

Homestar is a points based qualifying tool Homes (new builds and renovations) which has 4 main categories to provide the best thermally performing home within your budget:

  • Efficient: Rewards smaller dwellings and smaller footprints

  • Health and Comfort: These points reward attributes for occupant thermal comfort by way of whole house thermal performance, ventilation, moisture control and lighting. It also recognises interior finishes that minimise the detrimental impact on occupant health from products that emit pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)

  • Liveable: Rewards safe, secure and adaptable dwellings

  • Environmentally Responsible

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Assessing the design rating 

If we have not designed your home we can still assess your plans in order to determine the requirements you need to achieve a homestar rating.  This information required to do this includes construction details and specifications. We specifically look at the requirements and calculations for the heat loss of the home, calculating construction R values and thermal bridging.  We model the units in the ECCHO tool which gives us data on the performance of the home.

 

Architectural design - Sustainability - Healthy Homes
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Assessing the built rating

We work with you and the builder to provide evidence required by NZGBC to determine Homestar design rating information had been adhered to including verifying construction timber members sizing and spacings and insulation R values.  Will also include verification of windows sizes and openings, materials and fixtures etc to validate the design rating evidence.  Site visits would be required in the determining the evidence but also receipts, invoices and photos may be accepted to assist the evaluation of the rating.

Homestar ranges from Homestar 6 rating (60 points minimum) upto 10 Homestar rating (100+ points).  There are mandatory minimum requirements within each rating.

We work with you during the concept stage of your home to apply all the aspects of Homestar and sustainable design into the project knowing with the expert knowledge knowing where exactly you can improve the thermal envelope.

We can provide you an estimate of how your building is performing and put forward some recommendations to you should it not achieve what you set out for.  Should the project look to be on track in terms of Homestar targets we can continue to provide all the data required and submit on your behalf to NZGBC who we continually work with.

Our team of Civil Engineers are passionate about integrating their extensive knowledge of New Zealand’s geological features into top-notch designs. Whether your project requires a specialized or standard solution, our engineers can design, verify and sign off your project

  • What is a civil engineer, and what do they do?
    Civil engineers are a category engineers who work mainly on construction projects. It is a broad title which includes anything from Structural, toGeotechnical, to Traffic Engineering.Even Environmental and Coastal Engineering are included, as well as many more. We often provide help to architects and drafters to ensure designs arecompliant with local regulations and help with the technical details of a project to make sure everything works the way it should. We can help with getting a project from the page into the real work.
  • What sort of engineering do I need?
    That depends on the job you are looking for. Cook Costello’s Civil Engineering team specialises in land development, flood modelling, three waters management, and construction monitoring. If you are looking for anything around those lines, feel free to get in touch on the here.
  • What is stormwater attenuation?
    Constructing anything on your property where there used to be nothing but grass, can disrupt the flow of water and end up increasing the amount and speed of water flowing off your site. This is because dirt, grass, or planted areas can absorb and slow down water which is something a carpark or roof can’t do. In urban areas where there is a risk of flooding your neighbours, tanks may be installed to capture and slow down the water coming off your roof or driveway so that it can be released gradually once the storm has passed. This can help spread the load and make sure no one ends up with wet socks. Attenuation is often required for any house increasing the paved and roofed area of their property.
  • What hazards may impact a development site?
    There can be many different hazards to look out for when choosing a location to develop. A main one which can affect many properties is flooding. This can reduce the usable area on your property or increase construction costs by requiring the floor level to be raised. Slope instability can also be a common issue which may require ground stabilisation with reinforcement, retaining, or other methods. The stability is difficult to predict as different soil types and topology react differently. If your site is at risk of slope instability, geological testing may be required. Other hazards include poor geology, liquefaction risk, contaminated soil, or caves and mines underfoot. These hazards each effect a site in their own unique ways so engineers may have to create a unique solution specific to your site. These hazards can often be found on your local council’s GIS map, so make sure to visit and look up your property.
  • What other issues do I need to look out for to avoid complications when developing land?
    There are many other complications which can increase costs or add delays when developing a site. Connections to local infrastructure like, stormwater or wastewater, can vary from simple to impossible depending on local availability, correct fall to lines, capacity, and obstacles. These issues can be worked around with various solutions like pumps, on-site disposal, infrastructure upgrades, or attenuation. But these come with varying effectiveness and price tags. Site access can also be an issue, especially on main roads or when near intersections. It could be worth looking up the site on local GIS maps to ensure there is local infrastructure on the right site of the road, or to commission a desktop study to ensure that the site will be worth developing.
  • What is needed for off-grid living/ building off grid?
    Building off the beaten track can be an appealing prospect for lower land costs, more privacy, or a rural lifestyle, but off-grid living comes with its own challenges. Most on-site wastewater and stormwater solutions require substantial amounts of land which must be dedicated to water management. Some soils are more effective at absorbing and treating wastewater so testing may need to be done to determine the best method. Drinking and firefighting water tanks may also be needed if there is no piped water in your area. Water can either be sourced from rainwater or underground wells. Water storage tanks vary but an off-grid house may often have between 30,000 and 60,000L of water storage.
  • What do I need for building or resource consent?
    Each council has its own requirements for consent, we can provide the engineering services required to get your project off the ground and through the consenting process. Resource consent ensures what you are doing is possible and allowed within local policy, it shows council that your project is well throughout, and you have considered any consequences for the project. This generally includes plans or drawings of the proposal, a list of proposed activities, considerations for affected parties, an environmental impact assessment, and consideration for local plans and policies. A resouces consent is required for jobs which effect the natural environment or other people, including subdivision, new buildings, and changes to stormwater discharge. A building consent is more specific and requires detailed and finalised plans before being issued. It shows council that any construction taking place is safe, legal, and fit for purpose. This ensures that the construction complies with local requirements and the national building code. A building consent is required for jobs which require construction like new buildings, retaining walls, and plumbing. Achieving building and resource consents can take a lot of time, so it is best to start on the process early. Each council has their own specific requirements for consents, and depending on the complexity of the job, it can take many revisions for all parties to be satisfied. Civil engineers are very involved in the consenting process. It is often our job to assist with and ensure consents are achieved without complication.
  • How to subdivide a property?
    There are a few steps to follow to subdivide a property, in general: It is recommended to discuss the subdivision with a planner first to ensure any project preventing issues are identified from the start. A pre-application meeting with the local council is recommended, however not required. This is a meeting which the proposal is discussed, and any requirements can be identified. Obtaining a subdivision consent from your local council. Typically, this requires a site suitability report covering the required infrastructure and geotechnical conditions within the proposed lots and a scheme plan. Obtaining a survey plan approval, 223 certification. Carrying out any requirements required by the local council, and any infrastructure required for the subdivision's final council sign off. Apply for s224c sign off once all physical works are completed. This is a certificate to certify that all conditions of the subdivision consent are met. Lodging the new titles with the Land Titles Office at LINZ and receiving your new record of title(s)
  • What is structural engineering?
    Structural engineering is a branch of civil engineering that focuses on the design and analysis of structures such as buildings, bridges, and other infrastructures. It ensures that the structures are safe, stable, and capable of withstanding the loads and forces they encounter up to a certain standard.
  • When do I need a structural engineer?
    You may need a structural engineer if: You are building a new home or commercial property. You are adding an extension to a building. Your building has experienced damage (e.g., from earthquakes, floods, or other natural disasters). You need an inspection for structural integrity, especially for safety or compliance.
  • What types of projects do structural engineers work on?
    Cook Costello structural engineers work on a wide range of projects, including: Residential homes. Commercial buildings such as offices, warehouses. Seismic assessment and strengthening of buildings. Foundation design and inspection. Temporary works such as scaffolding or shoring systems. Internal fitout seismic design for commercial buildings.
  • What is seismic strengthening, and why is it important?
    Seismic strengthening involves upgrading a building's structure to withstand earthquake forces. This is particularly important in earthquake-prone areas and for older buildings that may not meet current seismic standards. Strengthening ensures the safety of occupants and can prevent significant damage during an earthquake. In New Zealand, many cities require a certain seismic rating for each building to ensure it is safe during an earthquake. Feel free to contact us if you need an ISA (Initial Seismic Assessment) or DSA (Detailed Seismic Assessment).

Rural Bach

The brief, a small dwelling for family trips away where low maintenance was key alongside the bach sitting and tying in with its natural surroundings.

Render of a Homestar rated home
Render of a Homestar rated home from the back

Small Home

A dwelling for a small family with simple lines and where the internal flow is uncomplicated.

Render of a thermal envelope assessment on a new build home

We can also create 3D Imagery and 3D printouts of your soon-to-be new home!

For the best advice on earth 

Contact a Cook Costello architectural designer  

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