Architecture

In a significant step towards enhancing building sustainability and comfort, New Zealand's building code has been updated to require all new homes to have thermally broken joinery.

It has been a real privilege and an honour to be working alongside Kainga Ora Homes & Communities on their housing development project. Since 2022, we have seen the completion of 33 new homes across the Tauranga area.

In the realm of modern construction, innovation is the cornerstone of progress. As New Zealand continues to evolve, so too does the way we build our homes. One such innovation that has been gaining momentum is the use of Structural…

Creative Space Architecture’s journey took an unexpected turn when in early 2018, Regan Little, now general manager, and André started discussing the challenges facing the construction industry.

Performance has always been the north star for the team at Creative Space Architecture. It could be getting the most energy efficiency from a new build, alteration or ensuring bullet-proof and robust weathertightness in a multi-level…

We are thrilled to announce that Creative Space Architecture has achieved Silver Membership status with the esteemed Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ). This recognition reflects our commitment to sustainable design practices…

Josh, our BIM Manager, has been selected to join the Graphisoft Insiders Panel. Graphisoft is a global leader in Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, with Archicad being used by over a hundred thousand professionals and more…

QT Magazine sits down with Architect Director, Andre Laurent, for a quick Q&A on the move for design efficiency in architecture and the popularity of Passive Home design principals.

In our rapidly changing world, sustainability and energy efficiency are no longer mere buzzwords but have become crucial aspects of modern living. As concerns about climate change and resource depletion continue to grow, innovative…

Taking a walk through your new home before it has even built was a dream that has now become a reality with help of today’s Virtual Reality technology.

André Laurent, owner of Creative Space Architectural Design, became one of the leading remedial specialists in the North Island by thinking scientifically, and standing by what he knew was right. He’s a friendly giant with a smile to…

ICFs are basically very large format polystyrene blocks, comparable to traditional masonry blocks.  However, for one ICF block you would need 4-6 traditional masonry blocks (due to the size of most ICFs).  The ICF is laid (like…

New types of building work will no longer require a building consent, saving homeowners up to $18 million a year and reducing the number of consents by about 9,000 (if lodged separately).

We now provide BIM 3D models with every concept design we produce. While our clients enjoy the fun of interacting with their dream design and simulating walk-throughs, the advantages of this service are much deeper than a pretty video

The tiny home movement, as it was coined in the early 2000’s, came from a rebellion in the US to the disproportionately large average size homes which exploded to over +230m2 despite family sizes getitng smaller.  The same appears to…

PALO ALTO, Calif., February 4, 2014 - Houzz (www.houzz.com), the leading platform for home remodeling and design, today announced the community’s picks for Best Of Houzz 2014, a homeowner to homeowner guide to the top home builders,…

HAVING A POINT OF DIFFERENCE was the only non-negotiable design rule Johnny and Michelle Calley insisted on for their home. And they’re pleased they took some risks, says Johnny. “We really wanted our home to stand o ut from the crowd…

When owners Lyn McLean and Melanie Wakeman made the decision to build their dream it encompassed much more than a home. Their plans included provisions for the future from planting an avocado orchard to wiring the entire house and entry…

Creative Space has opened a substantial new office in Tauranga CBD marking a major leap forward for the company, says director Andre Laurent. The new office, which is around four times the size of the previous premises, is the result of…

Created as a show home for The Thorne Group, the ultramodern design of this Tauranga house sits comfortably on the rectangular shaped site. Built to display the exacting standard of workmanship demanded by the well-established…

A Tauranga residence is not only a great family home, it’s also a functional workplace for a busy architectural design firm.

The first layer of protection is the seal around your home, then you’ve got your cavity system and then you’ve got the deflection layer.  The seal around your home is the Air Barrier System which is critical.  To help you understand…

Cavity construction was introduced with the change in the Building Code in 2004.  Two of the 4 Ds are covered with these Pressure Balanced Cavity Systems, that is ‘Drainage’ and ‘Drying’. The idea with a Pressure Balanced Cavity System…

Critical junctions are areas of a building where construction materials and construction methods intersect. They are the areas of construction that most designers turn a blind eye to and they are also the areas that will make your…

The typical exterior plaster system for most NZ homes has been cementitious or cement-based plaster. These plaster systems are fine for simple homes associated with a low ‘design complexity’. However, when more complicated homes are…

When investing large sums of money into your future by way of building new or renovating, the biggest opportunity to create more value than you are spending is through good design. We know that ‘great design creates great value’ and…

I would encourage you all to find a designer or architect that values the fundamentals of good design. I would then encourage you to afford them the time they require to get it right for the best interest of your family. Great design…

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) are very large format polystyrene blocks with a hollow core in which concrete is poured to form the wall structure. The polystyrene walls of the blocks then provide an additional barrier system which adds…

Flashings play a key role in the performance of any building exterior building envelope. Together with a cladding system installed over a drained and ventilated cavity system, flashings form the primary line of defence deflecting liquid…

We are excited to be part of the growing requirement to provide better performing buildings. Combined with well-considered passive design principles, we see Homestar as a framework to ensure our clients are provided with healthy, smart…

Three feature articles covering design and construction of the Homes of Hope building – a fund raising project to gain awareness and donations for the new $2 million cancer centre.

Saddle flashings can be a complex and high risk junction which, if not designed and built correctly, can be a key contributor to water ingress. This is a typical example of the end result of our in-depth detailing and it’s also a…

The big news to hit our industry this year was the announcement in October that both the Government and National unilaterally agreed to a sweeping housing density law which will see three-storey homes built in urban areas without…

Solitex Extasana is a synthetic non porous wall underlay produce by Pro Clima. Pro Clima is a German based company that specializes in air and watertight building systems.  Solitex Extasana is a superior building wrap that has high…

Over the past 10 years, WeatherAll Solutions has been waterproofing window and door perimeters and complex junctions on residential, commercial and historic buildings with its CodeMark approved TRM WeatherAll waterproofing membrane.

With the availability of lightweight alumium and access to laser cutting technology, privacy screens are no longer limited to the basic wooden slats of recent times. These days you can add that real 'Wow' factor to your home, in a…

It's not that often that we get excited about a new material or construction technique - not since ICF systems, at least. Primarily we want to be sure of anything we recommend before we shout about it here. Laminam is another story. We…

Ask any builder, designer or building inspector, and they will all confirm that keeping your home well maintained is the best way you can prevent leaky home issues.  While we are all doing everything we can in the industry to prevent…

The first and most important point that everyone needs to understand before starting any building work is that the Building Code is the BARE MINIMUM STANDARD.  It’s as simple as that.  It’s not an elevated level to reach.  The…