Simple House Acceptable Solution frequently asked questions
Building a first home
Q. What is the Simple House Acceptable Solution?
A. The solution is a streamlined consenting document for simple houses that meets industry preferences as well as the New Zealand Building Code. The Acceptable Solution brings together in one place all the Building Code requirements and standards needed to design a simple house of good quality. It includes:
- Structural strength and durability for the majority of locations in New Zealand;
- Finishes that reflected the requirements for durability and low maintenance;
The Acceptable Solution is an initiative under the Government’s Better Building Blueprint package – a series of measures that will make design and building processes easier and cheaper for good quality homes and buildings.
Q. What are the hallmarks of a good quality affordable new home?
A. A good quality affordable home has the flexibility to meet the changing needs of the owners, uses low maintenance materials, is designed for comfortable living, and includes energy efficiency, water efficiency, material efficiency, and waste minimisation.
Q. I want to build a new starter home. Where do I start?
A. Have a look at the Simple House Acceptable Solution and then talk to your architect or designer.
Q. Will private house building companies be able to use the Acceptable Solution?
A. The document has been developed specifically for this audience to assist them with the building consent process. Many of the major home builders already have designs that fit within the guidelines.
Q. How was the Simple House Acceptable Solution developed?
A. It was developed by bringing together the relevant clauses from the National Building Code and Standards to meet the need for one straight-forward document to cover non-compliant houses.
Starter Home Competition
Q. What was the Starter Home Design Competition?
A. The competition was launched by the Department of Building and Housing in March 2008. The aim was to encourage designers, architects and builders to use their creativity to come up with innovative plans for modest, affordable homes. More than 140 entries were received with the winners announced by the Minister for Building and Construction Maurice Williamson in March 2009.
Q. Who were the judges?
A.
- Gordon Moller, (Chair)
- Prof Gordon Holden, University of Wellington
- Graham Coe, Registered Master Builders Federation
- David Brown, Certified Builders association of New Zealand
- Lynda Amitrano, Building Research Association of New Zealand
- Thérèse Quinlivan, Community Housing Aotearoa
- Kevin Mara, Housing New Zealand
Q. Who were the winners?
A. Tony Koia of Koia Architects Ltd from Queenstown was the winner in Category One, and Stephen Smith the winner of Category Two. Wellington architect John Wright was runner-up in Category One, and James Raimon of Archimedia Ltd in Auckland was runner up in Category Two. Another Category Two entrant, Geoff Walker of Image Architecture Ltd in Blenheim, was highly commended by the judges. The Supreme winner was Stephen Smith.
Q. Was the winning design built?
A. Yes. The Supreme Award winning design was built by the Housing New Zealand Corporation on a site in Otara, South Auckland. It was officially opened in October 2010 and used by the Department as a demonstration house for the Simple House Acceptable Solution, before being sold to a family.
Q. Will the public get to see the winning home?
A. The winning home was open to the public during November 2010. it has now been sold to a private owner, but photographs of the completed house and short videos taken during its construction are available on the Department of Building and Housing website.
Role of Department of Building and Housing
Q. Why was the Department of Building and Housing involved in the Simple House Acceptable Solution?
A. The Government and the Department of Building and Housing (the Department) are aware that housing affordability remains a problem for many New Zealanders. There is a shortage of affordable new homes, and the Government and the Department believe that making it easier for people to achieve good quality affordable houses will encourage demand for more houses to be built.
The Better Building Blueprint, which the Simple House Acceptable Solution is part of, is a ‘next generation building control’, combining quality and cost effectiveness. This is about simplifying and streamlining initiatives, making the building process straightforward and reducing consenting costs.
Q. Is this about providing state housing?
A. This isn’t about state housing; it’s about demonstrating that building an innovative first home is an affordable option for New Zealanders. The initiative is also about encouraging aspiring homeowners, builders and architects to construct affordable quality homes.