The recently released Framework for Housing Quality from Stats NZ defines four elements of housing quality:
- Habitability
- Environmental sustainability
- Functionality
- Social and cultural sustainability
Interestingly, the location of a house affects all four of these elements and has a significant impact on overall housing quality.
Habitability
Habitable houses are physically safe, secure and healthy.
Environmental sustainability
The design and construction of environmentally sustainable houses ensures that they are responsive to the climate and environment, facilitate sustainable living and are both durable and resilient.
Functionality
Functional houses enable cultural, spiritual, social and economic participation, improve connectivity and provide for physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional and mental health needs.
Social and cultural sustainability
Socially and culturally sustainable houses are adaptable and flexible to changing living needs and circumstances.
What this means for Developers
Aside from location, here are some resources your design team can use to improve the quality of housing:
- Health and Safety by Design (WorkSafe)
- National guidelines for crime prevention through environmental design in New Zealand
- Household Water Supplies (MfE)
- On-site Domestic Wastewater Management (AS/NZS 1547:2012 )
- Homestar
- Universal Design (BRANZ)
- The New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust: Licence Criteria for Construction & Demolition Waste Services (EC-59-19)
- HSS High Standard of Sustainability benchmarks (Beacon)