A cut above the rest: Douglas Furniture
Making the most of the lockdown, Douglas Furniture took out the mirror to reflect on its processes and how the team can better improve them. After operating in Christchurch for more than 65 years and being one of the more established joineries in New Zealand, they managed to find uncharted territory. We caught up with […]
Waste not, Want not: Natural Flow South
Are you looking for a simple, environmentally friendly sewage treatment system that doesn’t require expensive, on-going maintenance? The NaturalFlow system not only provides an eco-sustainable sewage solution and produces a high quality result to treat wastewater, but saves money and time. Keeping it simple is the company’s philosophy – using power-free, natural processes […]
Bye bye bags: ditching the plastic bag in favour of sustainability
We’ve long been aware of the social and environmental benefits of fair trade and, as sustainability becomes cooler than consumption, now we’re turning our attentions to plastic. While Metropol has made the conscious decision to not plastic wrap our fortnightly glossy magazine, we’re excited to see some of the country’s largest retailers adopt a less […]
Romance revisited: the wonderfully whimsical story of Rebecca and the RLS Redesigned Boutique
Once upon a time, Rebecca Swindell was in her local St Vincent de Paul shop when she spied a shelf of vintage lace and fabric remnants. “The needlework, the hours of love that had gone into creating these beautiful pieces… imagine if they ended up in landfill!” Rebecca returned home with her tablecloths, pillowcases and […]
The missing middle: medium density housing and its ever growing need
In an age where sustainability is front of mind, and the Bank of Mum and Dad are becoming one of the country’s biggest lenders, medium density housing might just be the answer. Affordable, sophisticated living with a strong focus on community and proximity to amenities, this architectural typology is definitely not short of fans offshore […]
A ‘superhome’ showcase: Bob Burnett Architecture features in Superhome Tours
Once again, the Superhome Tours will feature work by Bob Burnett Architecture, which is noted for both award-winning design and energy efficient, environmentally sound buildings. Bob is dedicated to improving the quality and performance of homes, by encouraging people to see beyond the substandard building-code minimum. New Zealand has the highest rate of childhood asthma […]
A soul-ful salon: Soulstyle Organic Hair Salons are the easy going environmentally friendly salons you need to check out
The vibe is chill, the feeling is restorative and the products are eco friendly at the two Soulstyle Organic Hair Salons owned and operated by Deanna and Greg Campbell. Blending authenticity with style to bring you the uplifting but calming experience that every hair appointment should be. Locally roasted Switch Organic espresso is brewed for […]
The untouchable Peri Drysdale: our Q&A with the seriously clever and savvy Untouched World founder
A less is more approach isn’t one traditionally taken by a successful fashion label, but then Untouched World founder Peri Drysdale isn’t one to play by the rules. Doing things differently is, after all, what has cemented her place in the upper echelons of entrepreneurial royalty. Metropol talks to Peri about her recent achievements and […]
Architectural eco-showhome: Hybrid Homes wanted to show just how good a home can be without sacrificing the environment
Unafraid of tricky building sites, Hybrid Homes has built a new thermally broken, zero-energy showhome. “Power and rain water collection systems combined with building techniques that maximise efficiency allows us to run this home at zero energy cost,” says Hybrid Homes Director Jamie Harrington, who has been designing and building eco homes for more than […]
A conscious collection: Untouched World Autumn/Winter 18 collection is trend-setting (and not fashion trends)
At face value, a less is more approach seems at odds with the very basis of a capitalist economy and, in particular, a commercial fashion brand. Boldly bucking the fast fashion trend, Untouched World is about beautiful, understated designs. With 97 percent of the range made in New Zealand, each piece is carefully crafted in […]
