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Architecture

Unlock the Potential for Your Home

Owning your own home in New Zealand is something you worked hard to achieve but, as time has gone on, you may be now feeling that the home you once felt proud of, no longer fits your needs or your lifestyle.

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Building Remediation: The Importance of Immediate Action

Buildings are more than just structures; they are spaces where we live, work, and create memories. However, over time, buildings can face various challenges that, if left unaddressed, can lead to significant damage and costly repairs.

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Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems in Passive Homes

In the quest for sustainability and energy efficiency, the design and construction of passive homes have gained significant momentum. At the heart of these innovative homes lies a key feature: the Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system.…

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EvoCo Show Home Now Open

Our new partnership with EvoCo prefabricated homes has now come to fruition with the launch of The Snug 35m2 show home at the EvoCo factory in Tauriko. Designed by our architectural team this passive home is an example of how great…

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Thermally Broken Joinery Now a Must for NZ Homes

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.

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Kainga Ora Housing Development

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.

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Revolutionising Home Construction with SIPs

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…

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Partnering for Progress - As Seen in UNO

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.

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Peak Performance - As Seen in UNO

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…

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Passive House Institute NZ Silver Member

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…

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BIM Manager Gets on Graphisoft Insiders Panel

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…

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QT Magazine Q&A - Passive Architecture

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.

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Discover the Future of Sustainable Living: Passive and High-Performing Homes

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…

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VR Concept Design Service

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.

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Uno Magazine - Pioneering Architecture

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…

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Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Systems

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…

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New Building Consent Exemptions

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).

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BIM 3D Models

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

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Tiny Homes No Longer Just for Hippies

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…

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Houzz Announces “Best Of Houzz 2014” Winners

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,…

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Homestyle Magazine - Style u-turn

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…

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Scope Magazine - BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

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…

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Building Innovation Magazine - Firm moving ahead despite tough times

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…

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Homestyle Magazine - Statement of Style

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…

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Homestyle Magazine - Dual Identity

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

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Rigid vs Flexible Air Barrier Systems

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…

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The Importance of Pressure Balanced Cavity Systems

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…

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Why Critical Junctions are Critical

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…

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Why use synthetic plaster systems?

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…

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Understanding Why - Great Design Creates Great Value

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…

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Fundamentally Correct Residential Architecture

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…

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Insulated Concrete Forms - How do they work?

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…

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What you need to know about Critical Flashings

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…

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Senior Creative Space Designer Qualified Homestar Practitioner

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…

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BOP Times - Project Hope - Len may never get to see Hope home built

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.

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Understanding Saddle Flashings

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…

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Three-Storey Homes Without Consent

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…

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What We're Specifying: Solitex Extasana Wrap

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…

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New Waterproofing System Provides All Round Solution

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.

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The Modern Take on Privacy Screens

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…

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Introducing Laminam - Large Format Tiles

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…

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Preventing Leaky Home Issues Starts with Basic Home Maintenance

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…

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What is the Building Code Really?

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…

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