Aokautere Manawatu Front
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EHAUS PACIFIC

Aokautere

Carbon Savings

4,656 KG

Heat Savings

89%

Understated and elegant, this two-bedroom home combines clean architectural lines with subtle warmth and impressive technical performance. Timber soffits soften the modern silhouette, while white plastered cladding and generous glazing give the home a light, expansive feel. A deep covered deck creates a natural outdoor extension of the living area, framed by views of sky and hillside. 

The white exterior was purposefully chosen to reflect sunlight away and minimise heat absorption, limiting the need for air conditioning. White roofs are proven to be one of the simplest and most cost effective ways to fight the heat. 

Step inside and the tone continues: 2.7m ceilings bring volume to the open-plan kitchen, dining, and lounge space, where custom joinery and timber accents add practical texture. Dual sliding doors extend the living space to the outdoors. 

The interior palette is pared back with soft greys and clean white finishes. A walk-in pantry, dedicated laundry and separate powder room round out the functional plan. Although its aesthetic is deliberately restrained, the home performs well above standard. It meets eHaus Pacific benchmarks, including full airtightness, with 140mm framing and insulated, high-performance glazing. A mechanical ventilation system runs continuously to supply fresh, filtered air year-round, and an electric heat pump supplies hot water with no reliance on fossil fuels. The 200sqm home includes two bathrooms, generous storage, and an oversized double garage. Designed with intention and care, it’s a graceful, low-impact home built for lasting comfort. 

Aokautere won three awards at the 2025 Master Builders House of the Year: Regional Category Winner, Gold Award, and Regional Supreme Winner.  

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We realised if we wanted a house that was warm, dry, well-ventilated, and affordable to live in, we probably had to build it ourselves. We knew the traditional kiwi way to build, even with the latest building industry regulations, was not going to cut it. So it was a no brainer that we needed to build something high performing like they do in Europe. 

 

Comfort isn’t something we think about anymore, it’s only when people walk in and say, ‘it’s nice in here’ that we’re reminded how different it really is. It gives us peace of mind, especially knowing we’re providing the healthiest possible environment for our son. This house is our sanctuary.

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— Jacinda and Kahu

Meet the team Behind this project

Monika Puri Designer Profile

Monika Puri

Monika has 15 years of extensive experience on large scale commercial, dense housing and community projects. Her area of speciality and interest is exploring modular nature of various building typologies, and she is committed to sustainable and high performing buildings. 

Design Components

Floor
Fully insulated concrete pad with a U-value of 0.182 W/(m²K)
Wall
140mm timber frame U-value of 0.337 W/(m²K)
Window Joinery Frame
uPVC - Uf value = 1.5 W/(m²K)
Glazing
Double Glazed Ug value=1.1 W/(m²K) g- value = 58%
Ventilation
Zehnder ComfoAir Q350 Series

Performance Specs

Heating Demand
17.9kWh/(m²yr)
Heating Load
16.0W/m2
Frequency of Overheating
2.3% year over 25C
Treated Floor Area
127m²
Air Leakage @ 50Pa
1.5 ACHn50

Consultant: Maria Rei

Certifier: N/A