Why Small Smart Spaces
The who, how, what and why of this new approach to design and build
Over the last few years, I’ve leaned into thinking differently about how we design and build homes in New Zealand. It’s not that the ideas are new—Passive House, Homestar, and Offsite Construction have been around for years—but they often operate in their own separate bubbles. Traditional architectural practice does its thing. Group home builders do theirs. And somewhere in the middle, everyday people end up confused about which path to take.
As someone who thrives on collaboration, becoming Passive House Certified, Homestar-ready, and stepping deeply into the Offsite space opened my eyes to a simple opportunity:
What if these three worlds could be brought together?
What if everyday people could access the performance, comfort, and clarity of high-end architectural design—without the complexity or cost of starting from scratch?
After observing, first-hand, how different the bespoke architectural world is from the group housing world—and the strengths and limitations of both—I created Small Smart Spaces to bridge that gap.
This is the who, how, what, and why.
How the Small Smart Spaces Concept House Model Works
Small Smart Spaces is built on a set specification of high-performing products and systems—many of them offsite-manufactured. By weaving these into the design from day one, we create homes that perform exceptionally well, are faster to build, and maintain consistent quality.
I call these designs Concept House Models or Predesigned Concepts. I avoid the term “standard plan” because that’s not what this is.
This isn’t group-home-builder territory.
This is design-led, client-focused, and performance-based architecture.
Because the specification is set, much of the detailed design work is already complete. That means we can put our energy where it matters: tailoring foundations, site-specific requirements, layout adjustments, and performance details so the home suits real life.
Each design operates under a simple philosophy:
Fixed, Flexi, and Free.
Fixed elements that are part of the core performance system.
Flexi components that adapt to your site and conditions.
Free areas where you can request changes.
It’s a balance of clarity, choice, and performance.
Who Small Smart Spaces Is
Small Smart Spaces sits under Smart Living Spaces—my architectural practice where I work as an Architectural Designer, Passive House professional, and Homestar Assessor. But this isn’t a one-woman band. There is no “I” in the delivery of this system.
This model works because of intentional collaboration. Not by merging into one big company, but by connecting experts who each bring their specialist contribution to your project.
Some of the core product and system collaborators include:
• Stop Digging screw piles
• Formance SIPs
• QPOD foundations
• Starke uPVC joinery
• Abodo cladding
• Red Stag timber
• Stiebel Eltron ventilation and hot water systems
And then there are the people who guide you through the journey:
• Colab Mortgages, helping you secure the right finance package—including turn-key finance options similar to group home builders.
• Affiliate Builders, who understand the system and work closely with the design process.
• YourQS, who provide early cost clarity so you know your budget is realistic before committing.
We’re all passionate about better buildings—and making those benefits available to everyday people.
You can find everyone mentioned on the website, along with links to their work.
What the Process Looks Like
Streamlining the design process was just as important as streamlining the products and systems.
Small Smart Spaces follows a clear, structured pathway with defined stops and steps. These checkpoints allow us to refine the design, adjust the level of specification, confirm budget alignment, and tailor the home to your site at the right time—avoiding surprises later.
Where to Start
Before you jump in, let’s have a chat.
A Concept Consultation is the best place to begin. I’ll walk you through how it all works in more detail, explain the steps, and help you understand whether Small Smart Spaces is the right fit for your project, your site, and your goals.
if you are wanting a healthy dry valuable new home, lets have a chat to see how we can make that happen for you. Use the link below to arrange this.