Our Pasefika principles are the origin for this project. The malae/mala’e/marae is the key driver for the reimagined Pasefika village in Aotearoa. The central village green and the shared fale is the orientation for all the houses, celebrating the importance of building secure neighbourhoods and fostering community relationships. A shared garden provides space for native plants, vegetables and fruit trees to be planted as the community desires.

The form for the houses takes on a large roof shape that is reflective of the unique roof forms across the Pacific islands. Our contemporary adaptation in these houses turns the roof into the wall and in doing so creates space. This design allows higher insulation to be built, meaning a warm, dry and healthy home for our families. Even more, they give privacy to the bedrooms upstairs while the skylights allow plenty of natural light and air to keep the house cool.

We acknowledge mana whenua, Te Runanga o Toa Rangatira for their ongoing manaakitanga in this project.  We recognise Ngati Toa’s commitment to whenua and to our ancestral links across Te moana nui a Kiwa.

Design features:

• High-standard living: Warm dry & Homestar 6 certified
• Solar for families: sun-powered savings
• Shared fale and fale: the heart of the village
• Roof design
• Heater panels
• Water efficient tapware
• Continuous mechanical ventilation
• Insulated slab foundation
• Low-emissive window glazing
• Private carparking spaces
• Rainwater collected for malae garden irrigation