Auckland, TUES SEPT 7, 12PM: Peddlethorp architects celebrates the announcement of the first public housing project
funded by Central Government in Australasia to be built to Passive House standards, developed by its client Kāinga Ora –
Homes and Communities.
The three-storey, 18-home building in Māngere, known as Bader Ventura, is designed to reduce embodied carbon as well as
heating costs; tenants will save upwards of to 80% on energy bills over the winter period alone.
Peddlethorp Director Manuel Diaz, who led the architectural design of the development, says Kāinga Ora is setting an
example of what is possible in the construction industry and providing the leadership needed to prove Passive housing
can work at scale in New Zealand.
“We know the government’s Building for Climate Change programme will mean a quantum shift for our industry, whereby
reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions will inform design from the first mark on paper to plans for
end-of-life,” says Manuel. “Because of this programme, the building sector is propelled into a new stage of learning and
discovery, and a fresh approach to building design and delivery. Kāinga Ora is leading by example in innovation,
research and collaboration, and we’re thrilled to be part of its Bader Ventura team.”
To ensure new homes are built to be warm, dry and energy efficient, the Building for Climate Change programme will
mandate a reduction in thermal demand from 80-90kWh/m2.a (kilowatt hour per square meter per annum) today, to 15kWh/m2.a
by 2035. The Bader Ventura homes will meet the 2035 energy efficiency standards more than 12 years ahead of schedule.
Construction constitutes 20% of total carbon emissions in New Zealand, and reducing carbon emission is a key priority of
government and the private sector in order to meet New Zealand’s international obligations.
“The sustainability strategy for Bader Ventura has influenced all of our choices, from material selection, mechanical
systems, structural connections, and construction methodology,” says Manuel. “We’ve truly worked as a team because to
meet the Passive House standard, we must have a high degree of collaboration and a detailed, holistic understanding of
building performance before and after construction is complete.”
Kāinga Ora General Manager Construction and Innovation Patrick Dougherty says the team is thrilled with the depth and
quality of Peddlethorp’s design detailing on such a complex project.
“Peddlethorp’s research-driven design and passion for new technologies have been crucial in helping us achieve Passive
House design endorsement on Bader Ventura.
“Their expertise and commitment to delivering high levels of quality and amenity gives us great confidence in an
outstanding final product. They’re a truly innovative, collaborative team, and we’re thrilled to be working alongside
them on our first Passive House project,” he said.
“This is no longer business as usual. As designers, we are expected to lead the change of direction, and it has been
both a privilege and an opportunity to work with the wider Kāinga Ora network to develop these new homes,” continued
Manuel. “Public housing provides an opportunity for us all to go beyond the basic level of compliance to test and
deliver homes that provide exceptional building performance and are great to live in.”
Design characteristics of a Passive House include the following:A ventilation system that controls indoor air quality at all timesOpenings within the building envelope that include thermal breaks and meet high insulation and air tightness
requirementsA continuous layer of high-performance insulation around the building’s envelope to reduce indoor-outdoor heat transferAirtight construction preventing uncontrolled air exchange, thereby avoiding mould growth and structural damageSpace heating demand that cannot exceed 15kWh annually or 10W (peak demand) per square metre of usable living spaceSpace cooling demand that roughly meets the heat demand with an additional climate-dependent allowance for
dehumidificationPrimary energy demand that doesn’t exceed 120kWh annually for all domestic applications per square metre of usable
living spaceA verifiable air tightness maximum of 0.6 ACH (air changes per hour) at 50 Pascals pressureYear-round thermal comfort for all living areas with temperatures not exceeding 25deg.C. for more than 10% of the hours
in any given year.About Peddlethorp
Peddlethorp’s core strength allows for the most complex and creative concepts to be articulated into reality through the
depth and quality of our design detailing.
Our proven ability to deliver on projects of diverse scale and type is highly regarded throughout the construction
industry. As acknowledged industry leaders across all project scales, our studio’s research-based approach to design is
centred on client-focussed solutions that address all aspects of design, underpinned by our technical expertise. Along
with genuinely innovative design capability, our expertise in team leadership, cost control and architectural practice
has seen many of New Zealand’s most unique buildings delivered.
We embrace collaboration, and the drawing together of unique skills for the benefit of each project. Successful
partnerships, utilising the complementary expertise of each practice, have been formed with local and international
firms on projects ranging in scale and building type.