Te Whare-iti Volumetric Modular Homes Manufactured Offsite by Wright Industrial

Te Whare-iti modular home programme was a winner in the 2018 SNUG competition. Its offsite manufactured modules use standard details and low-emission materials that are delivered and installed in turnkey contracts.

A unique feature of this programme is the many combinations available to customers when choosing the orientation and interconnection between selected modules, effectively customising the design to suit their requirements, site, and budget.

The current range of combinations comprises over 20 module types, which enables plans of different house sizes and shapes to be created and the OSM price quickly confirmed. Wright Industrial’s architects and engineers then assess the customer’s site, so the in-situ installation is also reliably estimated.

Once the turnkey contract is signed, OSM consent applications are lodged with approval expected within 4 weeks. Assembly then starts with completion typically 8–9 weeks later, ready for delivery to destination sites after in-situ consent approval.

With OSM underway, piles and services are prepared at the destination site and final transportation plans are put in place. The Te Whare-iti turnkey package includes the full range of subcontractors for earthworks, drainlaying, trucking and cranage, traffic management as well as survey and engineering consultants.

The partnership with Aonui Architecture provides Wright Industrial customers the added advantage of design customisation if required, for minimal extra cost. For example, custom designed timber decks and steps are regularly added to installation contracts.

If required, the consultant team provides resource consent advice and services for customers ahead of the building project, or in parallel with it, to ensure developments can realise their full investment potential. Te Whare-iti is frequently part of client subdivisions.

Te Whare-iti is recognised as a low-emission housing solution due to its 100% timber structure and the strategic omission of several common less sustainable materials and systems, for example:

• no structural steel or concrete in the building

• cross laminated timber (CLT) and/or light timber framing for the structure

• interior finishes are all timber, removing plasterboard, plastering, and painting from the

  build

• colour-coated steel or aluminum cladding and thermally broken aluminum joinery

• automated natural ventilation removes heat pump cooling mode

Almost all materials are sourced in New Zealand. Fossil fuel products (for example paint, plastics, and vinyl) are largely avoided. LCAQuick* life cycle analysis of base-building climate change impact of a one-bedroom CLT demonstrates Te Whare-iti has only 10% of the Kg CO2eq of the standard reference NZ home!

*BRANZ LCAQuick 2023