House of the Week: Built Off-Site and Hauled to Remote New Zealand

Modular and off-site construction is emerging as a significant trend in New Zealand's housing market, offering a more efficient and sustainable approach compared to traditional building methods. Companies such as Makespace specialize in architecturally designed modular homes, building residences like the 168-square-meter, four-bedroom, two-bathroom Waipu House offsite in their Auckland yard. These modules are then transported by truck and craned onto the site, reducing construction time and waste.

This method allows for customization, with clients working with in-house teams to tailor floor plans and material selections. Makespace emphasizes the environmental benefits, noting a 10-15% reduction in waste compared to traditional builds due to optimized designs using standard material sizes and the reuse of offcuts. For instance, framing offcuts are repurposed as nogs, and leftover plywood is used for built-in furniture.

Exceed Homes, a company with over two decades of experience in the lower South Island, is another leader in the off-site construction movement. They offer a fully managed process from design to delivery and have partnered with Westpac, which provides a Prebuilt Home Loan allowing customers to secure homes with a 10% deposit. This partnership helps make off-site builds more accessible by addressing financing challenges.

The advantages of off-site construction include speed, consistency, and cost control, as homes are built in controlled environments, mitigating issues like weather delays. Wellhaus, a Christchurch-based prefabricator, also contributes to this sector, as seen in a project where floor, wall, and roof panels were prefabricated and assembled on-site in just four days, followed by three months for cladding, window joinery, and interiors.

This shift towards prefabrication and modular construction in New Zealand is driven by the desire for efficiency, sustainability, and the ability to build in remote locations, making it an attractive option for various buyers, from those seeking weekenders to permanent residences.