Medium Density, Passive House and Homestar
Recently I attended the BRANZ seminar for Medium Density Housing. It was such a valuable session with many experts bringing their experience, ideas, and knowledge to help me navigate the Medium Density design space better.
One of the things that I kept realizing during the various talks, covering design principles, fire issues, acoustic challenges, and façade design, is that there is a great opportunity to marry up the Passive House and Homestar aspirations really smartly with Medium Density Housing. And while every opportunity can provide a challenge in another area, I think it’s worth considering the benefits of this housing typology rather than clinging to our quarter acre, stand-alone dwelling dream, which has for the majority expired.
Here are a few examples of the shared opportunities that Passive Houses or Homestar Medium Density dwellings present.
With shared party walls, floors, and ceilings, the insulation envelope of units is naturally better performing, as they border other insulated temperature constant occupied spaces rather than ambient air subject to varying temperatures. This means that increased thermal performance is an opportunity offered by sharing common elements in our housing. Using one element to serve two dwellings is smart. The challenge of creating an acoustic solution that allows occupants to have sound privacy both from outside and neighboring inside noise is one that needs addressing, but we have solutions that offer that. Acoustics are a consideration of Homestar along with minimum requirements. Although to have acoustics done well, it requires rising above those current minimums to good performing solutions.
With Fire requirements needing vertical and horizontal separation of window and door areas, we can address the thermal bridging details, using the detail to not only delay or hopefully stop the spread of flame from one dwelling to another, but apply the same for heat escaping one dwelling to the exterior. The resources used for one can also benefit the other.
Quality urban spaces within the development, giving Medium Density residents a private outdoor area, separating the public and private domain, and aiding a resident’s relaxation opportunities can be used for access to firefighting trucks and safe places to congregate. Also planting in such spaces can not only help with acoustic solutions but also increase the mental well-being of occupants. Planting areas are helpful for Homestar points and great for the overall value and desirability of developments.
These are just a few thoughts that surfaced as I absorbed all the information that was on offer. The final takeaway I took, was our stand-alone home typology has meant that solutions for acoustics, fire separation, and thermal envelope have been able to rely on space and individuality to absorb a lack of advanced consideration. The challenge facing New Zealand home occupiers and owners is to be smarter about what we are creating. And as professionals in this field are our job to respond to it with design integrity and quality in mind. Medium Density Housing needs to be done well if we are to move our housing typology in the direction where it is affordable and sustainable. And we have so many tools, systems, and knowledge to be able to do this today.
Someone so aptly put this the other week to me, Our NZBC is the standard for building the legal worst performing building permitted. We have the ability to make a real positive difference to our housing and the impact it has on our people, places, and planet.
It’s not about doing minimums or doing it the old way; it’s about embracing change and building smarter creating Architectural and Living spaces with people and the planet in mind.