Cohousing project 'coming together'

Image supplied.
Image supplied.
The playground area at the former High Street School could become a hive of activity again, as early as next year.

Urban Cohousing Otepoti Ltd bought the old school in 2013 with plans to create an intergenerational cohousing neighbourhood that will be built on ecological values and encourage social interaction.

Group member and architect Tim Ross said the development was just months away from starting.

''We're almost at the stage now where we're going to take things publicly.

''We've got a website set up which we are going to populate with information, and then once we have full sign-up, or near full sign-up, we'll go ahead with the build.''

Mr Ross said that could happen as early as next year.

It was hoped 22 homes would be built on the site, and the former school buildings would be ''repurposed'' into a ''common house'' - a facility that would contain a small commercial kitchen where residents could gather for a meal; a shared workshop,

laundry and two guest rooms.

''The cohousing model is an international model and, in that model, they always have a common house.

''It's really taking off in Europe and the United States,'' he said.

The new multi-storey terraced homes would be of varying sizes - four-bedroom houses down to single-bedroom houses - and would be designed with the aim of providing 90% reductions in energy consumption over conventional construction (Passivhaus Standard).

It should require ''virtually no heating'', he said.

''The project will seek to be an exemplar of sustainable design and living and will have close links to the wider community.''

The design would also create spontaneous socialisation, supporting a neighbourly community.

''It's pretty new in New Zealand. I don't think there's any Passivhaus multi-unit schemes built in New Zealand yet.

''We're really excited. It's coming together.''

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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