Seventy Squares co-founders Tristan Penrose and Jason Bint have ambitions to go nationwide with a new business building architecturally designed small houses nationwide from W\u0101naka.<\/p>\n
Their homes fit within new rules allowing standalone dwellings no larger than 70sqm to be built without consent, provided they meet building code standards.<\/p>\n
Kitset homes will be delivered in stages under a flat-pack system.<\/p>\n
Both of them have been builders for 20-plus years constructing architectural homes more latterly in Central Otago, but have bigger plans for the compact Seventy Squares designs.<\/p>\n
They follow a design checklist of efficiently built homes within buyers budgets in a simple design without compromising on quality.<\/p>\n
Mr Penrose said their timing was good as new minor dwelling reform this year had opened up the construction of standalone homes under 70sqm conforming with the building code on a site with an existing building on the title.<\/p>\n
He said the business idea had been in the pipeline for nine months with their website going live six weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Since then they had received 1300 inquiries, giving them confidence this would result in orders.<\/p>\n
The first compact home is being built in W\u0101naka.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I am building this for myself and it is the perfect scenario for the kitsets and putting my money where my mouth is and I\u2019m proving it actually works. I might even look at Airbnb-ing it out potentially so people can stay in one prior to buying.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Penrose said they were differentiating their designs from tiny homes as 70sqm was a good size without the maintenance or running costs of a larger home.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018This isn\u2019t about trailers or short-term fixes. It\u2019s about creating well-designed, permanent homes that families can actually live in \u2014 homes that are efficient to build, realistic to finance, and suitable for long-term use.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Penrose is the director with Mr Bint having a business interest and continuing to be co-owner of Bespoke Builds. The other Seventy Squares shareholders are an architectural designer and a quantity surveyor.<\/p>\n
Flat packs will be built in a partnership at local Placemakers sites with new owners commissioning their own builders to put them up.<\/p>\n
Mr Bint said their concept came from talking with building clients and realising the housing market was missing a lot in this area.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We will always build larger architectural homes \u2014 that market isn\u2019t going anywhere. But what we\u2019re seeing on the ground is a widening gap. Clients want smart designs and quality finishes, but they also need cost certainty. The industry needs a repeatable format that works within today\u2019s construction realities.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
He said there was a growing gap in the market between tiny homes and full architectural builds and their model sat in between that space.<\/p>\n
Unlike tiny homes or temporary dwellings, the 70sqm model was designed as a permanent, code-compliant solution under building standards, he said.<\/p>\n
The designs are expected to appeal to first-home buyers, people wishing to downsize or families wanting a sleepout and those seeking a studio and rental or worker accommodation.<\/p>\n
The most expensive design, clad usually in pre-painted steel, would cost about $180,000 with add-on options.<\/p>\n