Tonight | Grand Designs New Zealand on ABC: a straw bale home on Huntsbury Hill – Grand Designs New Zealand follows an environmentally committed young couple in Christchurch tonight. They buck convention by going back to the future with a centuries-old building material. The episode airs at 8.00pm on ABC and ABC iview.
Elizabeth Norris is a budding architectural designer and her husband, Everett, is a builder. Both are members of the New Zealand Earth Building Association.
A challenging site above Christchurch
The couple are building a sustainable straw bale house on Huntsbury Hill, overlooking the city. The site was once home to the Cashmere Sanatorium. Now, it is designated a “mass movement zone” due to earthquake damage.
Straw, recycled timber and Passive House goals
Everett is building the house to Elizabeth’s design. He uses recycled native timbers and straw’s insulating properties to aim for Passive House energy efficiency standards.
At the same time, the couple juggle Everett’s own earth-building work, a slender budget and plans to start a family. They put in long hours to prove that straw bale homes are a practical, healthy and environmentally friendly housing option.
Don’t miss Grand Designs New Zealand, Thursday 29 October at 8.00pm on ABC and streaming on ABC iview.
Find more ABC coverage on TV Central, and visit ABC iview to watch.
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