Designed without compromise.
Homes should perform as well as they look. Airtight, high-performance homes for Wānaka, New Zealand and the Southern Lakes.
A typical New Zealand new build can have significant uncontrolled air leakage through the building envelope.
That is air you have already paid to heat or cool, leaving – and moisture moving through the building envelope in ways that are difficult to control.
Most of what makes a house comfortable is invisible.
You can’t photograph retained warmth, the absence of a draught, or a room that simply feels good to be in.
Every house is a line drawn around the part you heat.
Airtightness is not a product you buy. It is that line – and the work is in keeping it continuous.
That line is only as strong as its weakest point.
Every junction, penetration and corner is somewhere performance can be lost.
We define that line at design stage and carry it through every junction.
Then we test the finished home with a blower door, so you know how it actually performs.
Airtightness is measured by how much air moves through the building envelope during a blower door test. The result is expressed as air changes per hour, or ACH50. Put simply, the lower the number, the less uncontrolled air leakage.
Less uncontrolled leakage means more of the air you have already paid to heat or cool stays where you want it, making the home easier to keep comfortable.
Getting from around 5 ACH50 down to our 1.0–1.5 ACH50 target range delivers the biggest gains. Beyond that, improvements become progressively smaller while the cost and complexity continue to rise. We build to the point where performance, comfort and investment are still working in balance.
A significant improvement in comfort, efficiency and durability without pursuing certification for certification’s sake. This is our target range, and it is a deliberate one.
The finished home is then blower-door tested, so performance is verified rather than assumed.
Uncontrolled air leakage means conditioned air is continually being lost, while moisture from cooking, showering and breathing can move into wall and ceiling cavities.
Achievable, and something we can build toward where it suits the project. But past a point, the cost can climb faster than the benefit.
Warmer, drier, quieter – comfort you notice every day.
A high-performing home is not created by one product or system. Airtightness, insulation, ventilation and material choices all influence how the building performs, so they need to be considered together from the outset.
Continuous insulation around the spaces you heat and cool.
Insulation performs best when it is continuous, protected and properly detailed. We consider the entire thermal envelope, including the junctions and penetrations where performance can otherwise be lost.
Controlling where air moves through the building envelope.
Airtightness is not a single product. It comes from creating a continuous airtight layer and carrying it carefully through every junction and penetration. We then test the finished home to verify the result.
Fresh, filtered air without opening a window in a southerly.
As airtightness improves, controlled ventilation becomes increasingly important. A balanced system brings in fresh, filtered air while removing stale air and excess moisture, helping maintain good indoor air quality year-round.
Selected for how they perform together and over time.
Materials are considered for more than appearance. We look at how they handle moisture, movement, durability and the Southern Lakes climate, and how they interact with the wider building system.
Homes should perform as well as they look. We design and build high-performance homes that are warmer, drier, quieter and more efficient to run, without compromising thoughtful design.
Integrated systems and materials that improve comfort, durability and efficiency. Not more parts. Better decisions about the parts.
Refined detailing, quality craftsmanship and considered execution at every stage. Because airtightness is only as good as the workmanship behind it.
Our Wānaka show home is designed to demonstrate how airtightness, thermal performance and precision construction come together in a real home. It reflects a belief at the heart of Airtight Homes: better performance does not need to mean excess or over-engineering. It needs to be well thought through.
Architectural render · not a photograph
We offer a free design and build consultation to talk through your site, your budget and what could be possible. No pressure and no obligation. Just a clearer picture before you commit to anything.
