The Tākaka Cohousing project is a response to a client who had a vision for a community-focused and sustainable cohousing neighborhood. Mōhua Ventures procured a portion of rural land adjacent to the charming town of Tākaka which was deemed the perfect location to realise this vision. The neighborhood adds character to the local area as well as much needed housing supply. The brief was to provide an organic layout of dwellings, moving away from the orthogonal boundaries of traditional subdivisions. All dwellings were to have an outdoor living space with a Northern aspect as well as orientation towards the central māra (gardens) to foster connections within the community.
The Common House is a larger scale building with communal kitchen, dining and laundry facilities and is a place for residents to come together. All car parking is provided separately from the dwellings so that the neighborhood is pedestrian only. Our response to the brief was three clusters of both single level and two storey duplex dwellings that are all in close proximity to the Common House and interconnected with meandering pathways.
Our collaboration with Elemental Design and Build inspired the use of traditional post and beam timber framing and hempcrete wall construction for the Common House, both of which bring delight to this space. Natural light introduced by high level glazing and the warmth and tactile nature of the lime plastered walls also elevate the experience. Tasked with creating homes that were beautiful, sustainable and affordable, the dwellings utilise macrocarpa weatherboards and pergolas along with high levels of insulation and solar power capabilities. The result is a housing model that is filled with positive energy with highly functional homes that are connected to a central ‘heart’ that is adored by its residents.
Photography by Virginia Woolf Photography