Understanding the space you really need and the ongoing operational costs
The operations costs of the house are often overlooked
“People often ask, ‘How many square metres do I have?’ or ‘What kind of kitchen bench do I want?’ I'd like people to focus on how much the house will cost to run and its operational costs – these things are often overlooked.”
Honshu Li: Warmth.nz
“I challenge people about room requirements. For example if you are in your late fifties, your kids have left home, you may or may not have grandchildren, so why are you wanting to build that four-bedroom house? What are those rooms going to be used for?”
Peter Davis: AD Architecture
“In New Zealand we love our big wide, open spaces – some of my clients are retired dairy farmers and they want a big 400m2 house in town. But someone's got to clean it and someone's got to heat it – it's crazy. It's a real area of both education and conversation”
Tony Biesiek: Imagine Architecture
“Consider making your house slightly smaller, save that $3000-4000m2 and spend on the quality of the house and you'll enjoy it more.”
Andrew Krupa: Koffman Windows
“If a client prioritises comfort, health, or sustainability, then a 10% reduction in floor area to allow for a 10% increase in build cost is a worthwhile trade-off. The long-term benefits to health, comfort, and energy savings far outweigh the value of an underused spare room or extra hallway space..’”
Claire Chatterton, Director, Chatterton Homes
