Calls for ban on engineered stone heat up
Submissions from health and industry groups on how to deal with Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) which causes the deadly lung disease silicosis are now being considered. Among those supporting major changes are employers, unions and MinEx which represents health and safety for quarries, mines and tunnels. A workshop was held by MinEx earlier […]
Do it once, do it right: Perfection Plasterers
A high-end finish to a home is wonderful to live with, and it can punch above its weight in adding value. Easy to maintain, a plaster-clad home is a crisp and clean, surefire ‘one and done’ way to happy ever afters. When planning a new build or renovating an existing home, Perfection Plasterers […]
Get cross with it
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has emerged as a popular material of choice for residential and commercial buildings throughout New Zealand, in line with European and American trends. Originally developed in Europe in the 1990s, CLT is a wood product made of several layers of structural grade lumber that are arranged crosswise and glued together. […]
Better home design needed
To achieve year-round comfort, energy efficiency, including in warmer weather, and affordable, healthy, sustainable homes, we need to consider home design holistically. Factors such as the orientation of the building site, the number and position of windows, shading, insulation, heating and cooling systems, and ventilation work together to determine the level of year-round […]
Let’s talk relationships: Arthouse Architects’ Jorgen Andersen
I often get asked about the design process for residential projects and our approach as a practice. It’s something I have been thinking about more in depth as I design my own family house. Relationships. The relationship of the mass of the house to the site, to the neighbours and the street – […]
Thinking of downsizing and retiring? Nest Residential
Who wants to end up in a retirement village? “Not me, that’s for sure,” says Simon Fenwick, of Nest Residential Homes. I know, I know, easy to say when you are middle-aged like me, and not facing decreased mobility and increased care. Easy to say when you can still mow lawns and get […]
Kitchens channel soft neutral tones
Building new or renovating, a kitchen is the heart of a home, and calls for extra special care and attention in design, fittings, and aesthetics. Leading kitchen designers in New Zealand predict, in 2025, Kiwi homeowners can expect to see timber kitchens with porcelain benchtops in soft neutral tones, all wrapped up in […]
Minister for Building & Construction Chris Penk: Unleashing a building infrastructure boom
The Public Works Act will undergo its most significant reform in nearly 50-years to help unleash an infrastructure boom. The bill will go to Parliament around the middle of 2025. The reforms aim to remove barriers to make it faster and more affordable to build the homes Kiwis need. The changes will also […]
Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson: Election focus on business
Canterbury is the place to be right now. After more than a decade of rebuild activity, we’re stepping into a new chapter, one that cements our place as Aotearoa’s second city and a key driver of New Zealand’s economic future. With local government elections taking place in October, now is the time to […]
Te Pae General Manager Ross Steele: Change is coming
It’s fantastic to see the positive impact international conferences are having on our city. This is reflected in feedback from delegates, local businesses, and results from ChristchurchNZ’s Conference Legacy Project. In 2024, Te Pae Christchurch welcomed more than 80,000 visitors to over 220 events, and the pipeline looks strong. Our thriving business events […]
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