Frequently asked questions:
What is environmental design?
Environmental design takes into consideration the natural world we live in and human activities
related to this. Our job is to interpret this circular
process and relate this to the built world. In architecture and design this largely relates to local sun path
directions, micro and macro seasonal wind flows, ecology, flora and fauna, materials and technologies,
transport, human habitats, cultural environments, local landscapes and, political and media influences.
What are passive design principles?
Passive design principles use what is already provided to us by nature. This is abundant free radiant
energy from the sun and natural airflow. Correctly designing for sunlight and airflow reduces
dependency on mechanical devices for heating and cooling or can eliminate these all together.
There are opportunities to incorporate passive design principles with
mechanical air circulation systems which increase efficiency, suitable in certain climates and regions.
Why do we need thermal mass (concrete) floors?
Concrete floors are like re-chargeable batteries that use sunlight instead of electricity for heating.
During the day time sunlight is beamed onto the floor, this energy is then absorbed by the concrete.
When external temperatures begin to cool during the evening, heat is then released (or conducted)
from the slab. Concrete slabs are also able to retain and release energy for many days without
regular sunny days.
Can we have timber floors if we don’t like concrete floors?
Timber floors can be used in a passive solar house but will not contribute to the
passive solar heating principles or take the place of thermal mass. In such cases we use feature concrete
panel walls or concrete block walls which will be designed to act as the main thermal mass store.
How much electricity do you save by using passive design principles?
If a house is designed using passive solar and passive cooling principles and
with the addition of a passive hot water heating system we would expect a 40% reduction in the annual
energy usage compared to regular houses. This will be higher for clients who really commit to these ideas.
Why do you need a passive hot water heating system?
Hot water is responsible for 27% of the total annual power consumption used by a house. Combined with passive design principles this will significantly contribute to the overall reduction in energy of any building.
What does ‘Cradle to Cradle’ material selection mean?
The title ‘Cradle To Cradle’ is the name of a book written by Architect
William McDonough and Chemist Michael Braungar. The title has now become a common phase in
describing how to think about materials. ‘Cradle to Cradle’ is a circular process in how we perceive
and think about materials. These are some of the questions we ask about materials: What is the
material? Where does the material come from? How is the material made? Where does the material
go once we have finished with it? What is the materials second life-cycle? And so on and so forth.
Are you a design build company?
We provide a traditional architectural service to clients.
This includes the following: writing a brief with the client, schematic design concepts, detailed
design development of these concepts, resource consent applications, construction documentation,
building consent applications and on-site observation of the project during construction. We generally
work with the client in selecting a suitable contractor or finding a project manager to run the project.
Do you do renovation work and can we incorporate green design ideas?
Yes we do renovation work and it is possible to incorporate passive solar and green design ideas into an
existing house. How much we can improve the existing house will always be different for each project.
Do you charge for the first introduction meeting?
Our first meetings are generally to get to know one another. There is generally
no charge for this. If we have to travel a significant distance then costs will need to be negotiated.
