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Cohousing residents ready to move in
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Tākaka Cohousing project coordinator Simone Woodland is more excited than usual about developments on site. In just over a month, she and nine other residents will finally be moving into their brand-new homes.
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“We feel like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It really makes a difference when you can see kitchens going in, and flooring going down,” says Simone. “The finishing touches like skirting boards, light fixtures and other little details transform a building into a home.”
Some residents are buying to rent, with a view to move in themselves at a later date. This means badly needed rental accommodation will be available in the meantime.
“I also think this helps us to create a more rounded community,” adds Simone.
An open day on Saturday 6 May will give Golden Bay the opportunity to view the homes and see progress for themselves. Residents will move in at the end of May and then a cohousing neighbourhood-only meeting will take place in early June.
One of the topics under discussion will be how best to use the central garden space between the new houses.
“There are possibilities like a seating area, pizza oven, food growing, and a trampoline for the kids. So, we’ll come together to co-create the space,” says Simone’s partner, and director of
Christchurch-based Kohu Hemp, Tane Woodland.
The common house, which is now a third of the way into its construction by natural builders Elemental Design & Build, will become the hub of the cohousing neighbourhood. The natural timber frame has been milled on site from Ōnekakā-sourced trees, morticed together to support the cladding.
Kohu Hemp will be creating hempcrete walls for the community building. “Hempcrete is a monolithic wall system,” Tane explains, “so it’s exterior and interior lining and insulation all in one. It is fire- and rodent-proof, and is also breathable due to air capillaries, so it regulates the humidity in the space.” The hemp fibres also give the structure ductility, enabling greater resistance to quakes.
In the meantime, Simone is overseeing a “to do” list for checking off before the first 10 homes are occupied.
“We’ve also got decks and porches to finalise,” adds Simone, “and the big one is the carpark and road frontage, which needs to happen before anyone can move in.”
Stage B, comprised of eight more houses, is due for completion at the end of July, which will see the cohousing neighbourhood continue to grow.
In the meantime, everyone is welcome to the open day on Saturday 6 May at 1pm.
Register online at www.takakacohousing.co.nz/events