Living House

10 hours ago
2 min read

Architect: RTA Studio

Situation

Living House is redefining residential construction in New Zealand through a high-performance building system based on cross-laminated timber (CLT). Their goal is to deliver warm, healthy, and affordable homes that can be built faster and more efficiently than traditional methods.

Their first prototype, a three-bedroom home in Rotorua, was completed in just six weeks, demonstrating the speed and efficiency of the system. Each home is delivered as a ready-to-build package, including drawings, specifications, multi-proof consent, and supply agreements, helping streamline construction.

Sustainability is central to the concept. Using locally sourced CLT and integrating solar energy from Fisher & Paykel Home Solutions, Living House homes are designed to be climate positive. Carbon is stored in the structure while operational emissions are offset over the home’s lifetime. The project has also been recognised with a 2025 Best Design Award for Sustainable Industrial Design.

Challenge

Balancing thermal performance, sustainability, and cost was a key challenge.

Insulation selection was critical. ROCKWOOL required increased thickness to achieve target R-values, which impacted wall build-ups and design efficiency. PIR insulation offered higher thermal performance at reduced thickness, but introduced trade-offs in environmental impact.

As Living House expanded into smaller one- and two-bedroom designs, there was also increasing pressure to reduce costs. Simplifying construction, including minimising complex junctions and optimising floor area, was essential to maintain affordability without compromising performance.

Solution

Working with Nuralite, RTA Studio developed an insulation approach that balanced performance with a practical solution.

Nuralite’s PIR insulation achieved the required R-values with less thickness, allowing for more efficient wall assemblies and better use of internal space. It also complemented the precision of the CLT system, simplifying detailing and reducing on-site complexity.

This approach enabled RTA Studio to maintain a balance between performance, cost, and ease of construction, while supporting faster build times and consistency across projects.

The outcome is a scalable range of climate-positive homes that deliver strong thermal performance, durability, and a more efficient construction process.

26 March 2026