Design a Home for Life
Conventional family homes are changing to accommodate shifting lifestyle needs.
Families want eco-friendly, affordable, warm, dry, homes.
Flexibility is also important for working from home and providing spaces for additional family members.
Town houses are one option. Central to the Wilson Forest Park Complex was the need to meet changing lifestyles. The homes also needed to be affordable for young parents paying off student loans and educating their children.
Wilson Park homes are three storeys and have variable layouts with multiple bedroom options. Each one has spacious decks and double garages with EV charging.
Smaller sections give a sense of community without living in a traditional apartment complex.
Residents can easily connect with neighbours and walk or bike to local cafes, breweries, boutiques and art galleries and a little further to local parks.
“This is the nicest set of buildings – huge deck for summer entertainment, balcony off the master bedroom for quiet reading, plenty of parking, and zero noise from next door” (Wilson Park resident)
The housing developers chose CLT for interior surfaces and traditional light-frame timber for structures, both locally sourced and pre-fabricated off-site. This sped up construction time, reduced on-site construction waste and helped to reduce costs.
CLT floor and roof panels are exposed showcasing the natural warmth and beauty of local Douglas fir while increasing heat efficiency and reducing noise transfer.
Architects around the world are increasingly using CLT in commercial and residential projects. Across New Zealand CLT is used in a wide variety of buildings including hospitals, schools, community facilities, hospitality services, retail outlets, residential accommodation and private homes in all regions.
CLT is an opportunity to develop building designs and construction, making it easier to create beautiful buildings that are efficiently built and environmentally responsible. It is becoming increasingly popular in building environments in New Zealand and around the world for low carbon solutions, biophilic and sustainable designs with cost and time savings.
References:
https://wilsonpdx.com
https://www.thinkwood.com/construction-projects/wilson-forest-park-townhomes
For more information about CLT in New Zealand:
https://redstagtimberlab.co.nz
