Sentiments like 'my home, my castle' and 'there’s no place like home' talk to the fundamental role the family home plays in reflecting and indeed shaping our identity. Hence why a renovation or build project plan for a family home must be led first and foremost by the personalities, preferences and priorities of the people who will call that environment ‘home’.

Privacy has, and always will be, a highly coveted commodity when it comes to our living environment. For quite some time, there has been a prevailing stereotype that medium density housing is the antithesis of privacy and, as a result, it has courted some degree of controversy. But as the shift towards sustainable living continues, the many virtues of these residential developments are being extolled by architects and inhabitants alike.

A tangible expression of innovation in action, prefabrication (or prefab) has reinvented itself time and time again over the course of history. With that said, the same governing efficiencies endure - excellent quality and design, timeliness of build, sustainability, competitive cost, increased productivity, and improved health and safety.

When Jonathan Ambler of AD Architecture was approached by a dynamic husband and wife duo, Tristen and Rachel Saunders, about their adventurous ambitions for a holiday home, a fascinating journey lay ahead.

A culturally significant change is gaining momentum in New Zealand's architectural landscape. At the helm, are a collective of practitioners whose heritage and knowledge are facilitating the revolution.