Wellington Houses

The one-off approach to building houses in NZ is easy to see as a quirky and endearing. But winter is setting in and I can see the fly in the ointment
Most houses are fairly flimsy affairs with little or no insulation of any kind. Estate agents seem obsessed with something called “flow” – as in “indoor-outdoor flow”, a phrase frequently seen on their blurbs. I think this means that the kitchen and living areas are open plan and that you can wander straight out into your barbecue area. Oh, and as it is perpetual summer let’s have a nice high ceiling. This would be fine if it was perpetual summer. However when the temperature drops to 5 deg C and there is a Southerly gale creating an impressive wind chill, you may realise you are living in a building that has the thermal retention of a paper bag. And no central heating.
Of course the priority for building regulations in this area has been earthquake resistance and I have no doubt that in an earthquake, having a thin walled timber framed house collapse on you is infinitely to be preferred to a load of breeze blocks and bricks. And most recently built houses are insulated.
In the picture you can see a typical Wellington single storey villa, in colonial style with one of those characteristic corrugated roofs. Nice Cabbage Trees in the garden and lots of electricity wires outside because it is on a bus route.
You can also see a picture of this house. Sorry, this well appointed shed with integral conservatory and great view. I am wearing a lot of clothes, indoors.