My Pecha Kucha talk
Here I share the realities of living in an off-grid tiny house with small children. I wanted to learn, and to learn by doing. This was never going to be my final outcome, merely a steeping stone along the way. My objective was never to live my life in a tiny house. I dont actually believe this is our solution, smaller, YES, but tiny, NO. The objective was to learn, learn what is the most valuable possession, the most appreciated design elements, experience my emotionally response to a life with a closer connection to nature. The most powerful thing to come out of this, was to realise how easy it is to live with less. The key is to be surrounded by beauty, both built and natural, and to embrace being part of the systems that surround us.
Grand Designs NZ
Every architect or designer secretly would love to have a project on Grand Designs, I do believe that.
I was lucky enough to show case my own home. Designed and built by myself. Huge learning, hugely difficult due to the design, the access, and the objective of making this house completely solvent free, non-toxic and healthy, and off the grid.
A massive learning for every architect or designer, would be to design and build their own home. I am surprised to realise how many have not had the opportunity unfortunately. The learning through this process is invaluable.
10 years of research has gone into building this home, the way I needed it to be, the materials, the methods, the systems used. A full scale experiment that has worked beyond my wildest expectations.
It proves we can do this this in New Zealand.