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SHAC 09 – At a glance

The Sustainable Habitat Challenge (SHAC) is proof that more sustainable living is practical today.

In early 2008, SHAC teams were issued a challenge – to create a home that requires fewer resources,

produces less waste, represents value for money and supports a sustainable community. They were askedto design, fund and construct their project, and complete their work by November 2009.

It was an ambitious proposal – embraced with vision and passion across the country. Teams worked

together creating buildings, retrofits and new products to support desirable, more sustainable living.

Teams included a tertiary institution and included students, professionals, tradespeople, educators, iwi,

local authorities, community housing representatives, and others.

Altogether, ten teams entered, resulting in eight new builds and retrofits. Their work reflects a range of

approaches to sustainability – from a bolt-on plant room for high-rise apartments through to a mud and

flax earth home designed for a rural Māori community. Values such as resourcefulness, practicality,beauty and social wellbeing were celebrated. Some projects focused on making the most of conventional

building techniques to make sustainability a natural part of everyday life.

And while the features of the buildings and the philosophies of sustainability are highlights of the

challenge, they are by no means the full story. Behind each project is a team, some of whose participants

had never met prior to embarking on their work. They not only found common ground through their

interests, but were able to turn their thinking into action – creating real, physical examples of options for

more sustainable living.

We now all have the benefit of this work. The social benefits have, in some instances, been striking – theyinclude healthier homes for Housing New Zealand residents, and buildings auctioned for charity.

Meanwhile, all teams have documented their ideas and allowed these to be available to both the public

and the industry for the future.

The creation, sharing and gifting of knowledge are the lasting outcomes of this challenge.

Contact Tim, Rowan, and Nicola at info@shac.org.nz, or call 0800 SHAC 09

SHAC 09 is a project of the Otago Polytechnic. Significant

funding has been supplied by the Minister for the Environment's

Sustainable Management Fund.

EMAIL  tim@shac.org.nzWEBSITE  www.shac.org.nz

POST Private Bag 1910  Dunedin, New Zealand

PHONE  0800 SHAC09MOBILE  +64 21 705 346

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  TEAM CANTERBURYChristchurch Polytechnic Institute ofTechnology, University of Canterbury andLincoln UniversityChristchurchNew timber-framed home

Build as you can afford to! Making effective use of conventional building techniques, this home can be built room-by-room, as funding permits.

WHAREUKU 

University of AucklandLake RotoitiNew earthen house

Embracing the philosophies of kaitiakitanga(guardianship) and “sweat equity”, Whareuku

has created a low-cost, flax-fibre reinforcedearthen housing solution for rural Māoricommunities. 

TE HIRA WHANAU BACH 101Te Hira Whanau, Unitec ScALA, Te HonongaRangitoto IslandRetrofit bach

This modern refit of a classic bachemphasises recycling and a low-energy,

do-it-yourself lifestyle to recapture thesimple beauty of Kiwi holidays. 

TEAM CENTRAL OTAGOOtago PolytechnicClydeNew straw bale home

High-spec straw bale eco home for Finnishclient. Building challenges included

incorporating a sauna and five-tonne masonrystove into the design. 

TEAM HOUSEWISEUniversity of Auckland, Landcare Research,Housing New ZealandAucklandRetrofit state house

Demonstrates a sustainable renovations

package for upgrading Housing NewZealand properties. Includes family-friendly ideas designed by the home’stenant. 

UNITEC ECOCRIBUnitecAucklandNew build bach and interiors (design only)

From cladding to furniture and light fittings –product designers and builders collaborate todesign an efficient, healthy bach-style home. 

TEAM WAIKATOWintec School of TradesHamilton (relocatable)New build timber-panel unit

Adding on? Add in! A relocatable one-

bedroom energy-efficient unit home addsvalue to backyards. To be auctioned tosupport Hospice Waikato. 

TEAM DUNEDINOtago Polytechnic, University of OtagoDunedin (relocatable)New timber-framed home

Nothing to see here... this stylish home is

"normal" as possible while containing a widevariety of accessible and sustainable productsand services. Proof that sustainable building is within everyone’s reach today. 

THE PLANT ROOMVictoria UniversityWellington (relocatable)Extension for inner-city apartment

Prefabricated bolt-on room providing 

space to grow food, generate energy,collect rainwater and manage waste.Designed for high-intensity housing, orattachments to office blocks. 

THE PLANT ROOMVictoria University, Massey University, WeltecWellington (relocatable)Extension for inner-city apartment

Further details on each project can be found at

www.shac.org.nz