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Questions & Answers

What’s a Living House?

An architect-designed modular housing system for a three-bedroom, 85m² home with a generous laundry-bathroom and central kitchen-living area featuring a 4‑metre-high ceiling. The system consists of 36 prefabricated building modules designed to be assembled by 2 – 3 people in six weeks or less. It includes solar energy, solar hot water, heat pump, oven, cooktop, and extraction appliances.
How does the process work — what am I buying?

You’re buying a detailed design package including drawings, specification and engineering calculations, with MultiProof approval certificate, ready for submitting as part of your Building Consent for a Living House, priced at $10,000 (incl. gst). This also gives you access to the preferential rates we’ve negotiated with our partner supplier network: Red Stag TimberLab (for CLT modules), Fisher & Paykel Home Solutions (for solar energy, hot water, and appliances), Metalcraft roof and cladding material, and APL door and window joinery with glazing.


 
Who builds the house?

Building a Living House is like any other residential build — you’ll need a suitable site, utilities, building consents, and a builder or Licensed Building Practitioner. After purchasing plans, you’ll order and pay for the building modules, materials and appliances directly from our partner suppliers.


 
How did you calculate the $335,000 cost?

In early 2025, we completed the first Living House in Rotorua. This enabled a precise cost analysis of all building components. The $335,000 figure represents the total cost of the Living House system ​“above the piles” (everything above the foundations). A detailed cost analysis can be viewed here.

The price includes preferential rates we’ve negotiated with our partner supplier network: Red Stag TimberLab (for CLT modules), Fisher & Paykel Home Solutions (for solar energy, hot water, and appliances), Metalcraft roof and cladding material, and APL door and window joinery with glazing. Delivery and installation costs may vary depending on the site location.

This estimated price excludes the purchase of the architectural design package including plans ($10,000), and all other site-specific costs relating to your build (consent costs, site preparation, foundations, hiab hire etc). We have provided an estimate of these additional costs at the end of the Cost Breakdown below. These site-specific costs will be confirmed by your builder (LBP).

The price also excludes all furniture shown in the digital renders.
What about additional costs?

The $335,000 figure covers all ​“above the piles” or standardised costs from our Rotorua project. Other site-specific expenses, including piles, consents and site preparation will vary by project, depending on site and location. To provide more transparency, we’ve included a cost breakdown for these elements from our Rotorua build. See the complete breakdown here.


 
What are the carbon credentials of a Living House?

We commissioned The Lever Room, a leading science-based consulting and technology company to comprehensively measure embodied and operational carbon emissions. Their analysis confirmed that the Living House draws down more carbon than it emits. See their report here.

The Living House (Building, Solar System, Energy Use, and Residual Export) — results in a net negative carbon balance of -12,056 kgCO₂e, meaning the CO₂e the building stores in its materials, and saves through exports of clean energy to the grid, is more than it emits across its lifecycle. 

Although the solar system has its own embodied carbon from manufacturing, installation, and eventual replacement after 30 years, the combined benefits of material sequestration and renewable energy generation more than offset these impacts, making the Living House climate positive overall.
What are the main advantages of buying Living House plans?

Time and cost savings are significant. You’re buying architect-designed house plans that already have a MultiProof approval certificate saving you time and costs in design and consent phases. Modular construction is also quicker, substantially reducing build time and associated labour costs.
What are the disadvantages?

Standardisation might be a disadvantage for some. While you can select colourways, structural layout such as walls, windows, doors, kitchen and wiring placements (which run through visible wall-mounted conduits) can’t be altered. However, you can personalise your Living House with finishes like paint or stain, decks, landscaping and gardens, storage for the wardrobe cavities and other furniture. You can also upgrade the fittings (taps, toilet, vanity and flooring options if you like, but at your own discretion.
What is MultiProof?

A MultiProof (or National Multi-Use Approval — NMU) issued by MBIE confirms our Living House design meets the New Zealand Building Code. This streamlines the consent process significantly, as local Building Consent Authorities don’t need to reassess the design of the house for each new site — though a site-specific building consent is still required. When you apply for a building consent, you send the MultiProof in with the other material, and it cuts the consent time in half. More details about MultiProof approvals can be found here.
Who is a Living House designed for?

A Living House suits diverse needs and locations: from infill developments on subdivided sections, papakāinga and cohousing neighbourhoods, affordable subdivisions, and first-home buyers, to secondary dwellings on rural properties or holiday baches. It’s ideal wherever an affordable, quickly built, carbon-zero housing solution is needed.
I want to build multiple houses, what should I do?

Call or email us to discuss your options. RTA Studio has investigated multiple Living House development options and can partner with you to create site-specific master plans. The Living House will offer client discounted pricing on the design package if you are wanting to build multiple houses: -

1 house $10,000

2 – 3 houses $9,000 each

4 – 5 houses $8,000 each

6 – 9 houses $7,500 each

>10 houses $7,000 each
What is a Living House made from?

Living House modules are constructed using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), a low-carbon engineered building material made by layering and bonding timber panels at right angles. CLT offers exceptional strength, sustainability, and outperforms traditional materials in many respects.


 
Do you provide assembly instructions?

Yes, you’ll receive the comprehensive Living House Builder’s Manual including detailed shop drawings from our suppliers. Additionally, we’ve documented the assembly of Living House #1 in Rotorua in a timelapse video — you will be able to view this soon!


 

Living House cost breakdown

Building costs including labour
Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP)

Each Living House must be constructed by a Licensed Building Practitioner of your choice. Labour cost, margin & installation (variable cost)

$34,877
Preliminary & General

Costs for site setup including security fencing, temporary services (water, power, phone), insurance, project management & administration (variable cost)

$6,019
Cross-Laminated Timber
Red Stag TimberLab
CLT panels

Floor, Wall & Roof panels delivered to site. Agreed supplier cost.

$114,011
CLT fixings
$7,475
Delivery

Allow 6‑weeks for order & delivery. Cost dependent on site location (variable cost)

$2,875
Insulation
Metalcraft Insulated Panels

Insulation supply for floor, walls & roof

Insulation supply for floor, walls & roof

Including delivery, cost dependent on site location (variable cost).

$15,524
Cladding & Roof
Metalcraft

ColorSteel or ColorCote cladding dependant on the colour specified. Allow 6‑weeks for order and delivery

Roof & Flashings

Agreed supplier cost.

$9,340
Gutter & Downpipes

Agreed supplier cost.

$2,322
Cladding

Agreed supplier cost.

$8,676
Delivery & Installation

Allow 6‑weeks for order & delivery. Cost dependent on site location (variable cost).

$10,652
Window & Door Joinery
APL

Use local suppliers of APL joinery including First Windows & Doors, Vantage, or Altherm

Window & Door joinery

Agreed supplier cost.

$35,776.50
Flooring
Carpet Court

Vinyl and carpet

Vinyl

Jacobsen Tarkett Premium Spirit, Allow up to 8 weeks for delivery (colour dependent)

$3,220
Carpet

Godrey Hirst Lambton Quay with Dunlop underlay. Including installation & delivery (cost dependant on location)

$5,405
Kitchen
Fisher & Paykel

Haier appliances included for the kitchen

Appliances

Rangehood canopy 60cm, Cooktop Induction 4‑zone hob, Oven 85L single 14-function with airfryer & wifi, Dishwasher. Agreed supplier cost.

$tba
Kitchen cabinetry

Agreed supplier cost.

$tba
Home Solutions
Fisher & Paykel

Haier home solution range including heating, hot water and solar package

Heat Pump

High wall AC Heat Pump unit 9kw with exterior unit. Agreed supplier cost.

$tba
Hot Water Heat Pump

Solar PV HVAC Hot Water Heat Pump. Agreed supplier cost.

$tba
Solar panels & Inverter

Solar panels x 16 & 6kw Inverter. Agreed supplier cost.

$tba
Installation & shroud cover for inverter

Cost dependent on site location (variable cost).

$tba
Electrical
Lighting, switches, power, cables, fan, switch board
$14,750
Labour & Installation (variable cost).
$5,462.50
Plumbing
Pipes, consumables, and installation
$9,138
Labour & Installation (variable cost).
$2,472.50
Outdoor louvre
Aluminium louvre roof pergola
$3,500
Materials & Hardware
Building paper, tapes & other material
$9,325
Internal hardware, Doors, Paint, Door handles, taps, internal doors, paint
$2,428
Total
$335,000*

Costs are estimates based on the Rotorua prototype build completed in March 2025. Costs include preferential rates we’ve negotiated for you with our partner supplier network: Red Stag TimberLab (for CLT modules), Fisher & Paykel Home Solutions (for solar energy, hot water, and appliances), Metalcraft roof and cladding material, and APL door and window joinery with glazing. Delivery and installation costs will vary depending on the site location. This estimated total price excludes the purchase of the architectural design package including plans ($10,000), and all other site-specific costs relating to your build (consent costs, site preparation, foundations, hiab hire etc). We have provided an estimate of these additional costs at the end of the Estimated Cost Breakdown below. These site-specific and actual labour costs will be confirmed by your builder (LBP). The price also excludes all furniture shown in the digital renders.

Additional Site Costs
These costs are estimated based on our prototype build and will change according to your specific site
$57,490

This includes:

Foundation/​piles & groundwork $10,000

Site specific plumbing & drainage $10,000

Deck materials $1,495

Driveway concrete $6,900

Fencing $2,300

Painting – piles, deck $2,415

Hiab Hire $11,270

Scaffolding $4,485

Additional builders labour (not part of the house build) $8,625

Additional items available to purchase as part of the Living House material package

Laundry Fisher & Paykel

Haier appliances included for the laundry;

Front Loader Washer 7.5kg
Heat Pump Dryer 8kg
Appliances
$tba

Laundry cabinetry
$tba

Home Solutions Fisher & Paykel

Home Solution range upgrade to include 10kWh Battery
$tba

Installation upgrade to include battery is additional $tba

Colour Options

Exterior

The roof and wall cladding is Metalcraft corrugated iron - ColorCote or ColorSteel - which is available in five contemporary colourways. 

Interior

Each exterior palette has two interior colourways - bright or neutral. Carpets, vinyl and internal door colours complement the exterior.

Exterior

The roof and wall cladding is Metalcraft corrugated iron - ColorCote or ColorSteel - which is available in five contemporary colourways. 

Permanent Green — Rivergum
Scale model 01 green crop

Interior

Each exterior palette has two interior colourways - bright or neutral. Carpets, vinyl and internal door colours complement the exterior.

Bright
Green bright
Vinyl
Dark Brick
Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Mushroom Swatch
Mushroom
Orange
Clockwork Orange
Neutral
Green neutral
TH HO i Q Granit 296warm gey
Warm Grey
Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Warrior Sample
Warrior
Resene Paprika
Paprika

Exterior

The roof and wall cladding is Metalcraft corrugated iron - ColorCote or ColorSteel - which is available in five contemporary colourways. 

Flaxpod
Scale model 01 flaxpod crop

Interior

Each exterior palette has two interior colourways - bright or neutral. Carpets, vinyl and internal door colours complement the exterior.

Bright
Black bright
THH 21020783 21086783 001red
Red
Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Mushroom Swatch
Mushroom
Resene Redwood
Redwood
Neutral
Black neutral
TH HO i Q Granit 296warm gey
Warm Grey
Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Warrior Sample
Warrior
Resene Travertine
Travertine

Exterior

The roof and wall cladding is Metalcraft corrugated iron - ColorCote or ColorSteel - which is available in five contemporary colourways. 

Gull Grey — Lichen
Scale model 01 gullgrey crop

Interior

Each exterior palette has two interior colourways - bright or neutral. Carpets, vinyl and internal door colours complement the exterior.

Bright
Beige bright
TH HO i Q Granit 296warm gey
Warm Grey
Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Mushroom Swatch
Mushroom
Resene Finch
Finch
Neutral
Beige neutral
TH HO i Q Granit 439
Yellow
Giles Carpets Auckland Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Driftwood
Driftwood
Resene
Mercury

Exterior

The roof and wall cladding is Metalcraft corrugated iron - ColorCote or ColorSteel - which is available in five contemporary colourways. 

Scoria — Pioneer Red
Scale model 01 scoriared crop

Interior

Each exterior palette has two interior colourways - bright or neutral. Carpets, vinyl and internal door colours complement the exterior.

Bright
Red bright
TH HO i Q Granit 439
Yellow
Lambton Quay Driftwood580
Driftwood
Dare
I Dare U
Neutral
Red neutral
TH HO i Q Granit dark clay
Dark Clay
Giles Carpets Auckland Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Driftwood
Driftwood
Tuscany
Tuscany

Exterior

The roof and wall cladding is Metalcraft corrugated iron - ColorCote or ColorSteel - which is available in five contemporary colourways. 

Storm Blue — Nimbus
Scale model 01 stormblue crop

Interior

Each exterior palette has two interior colourways - bright or neutral. Carpets, vinyl and internal door colours complement the exterior.

Bright
Blue bright
THH 21010625 001
Vinyl
Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Mushroom Swatch
Mushroom
Resene Merlot
Merlot
Neutral
Blue neutral
TH HO i Q Granit 160light beige
Light Beige
Godfrey Hirst Lambton Quay Warrior Sample
Warrior
Duck egg
Duck Egg