 3 bedroom off grid home with its guardian mountain Some projects take a little longer to find their way into the world. We first began talking with our clients about their East Tākaka home seven years ago. They decided to buy one of our pre-fab ten square meter Rameka’s to stay in when they visited the property while their home was being built. None of us imagined then quite how long the journey would be. The eighteen month design and planning process led to building consent in 2022. Then came the realities of a challenging hillside site and a global pandemic: rockfall engineering challenges, COVID impact complications, long delays and, after a few false starts, a project that then sat dormant until 2025. Now, in 2026, the main house has achieved its Code of Compliance Certificate and this special build is almost complete.  Birdseye view of our East Tākaka build Off-grid, practical and full of colourFrom the outside, this three-bedroom family home has a simple, familiar form, with carefully considered stepped sections that create sheltered, inviting spaces for rest and play. Inside, it tells a much more colourful story. The house is fully off-grid, with rainwater collection, a substantial solar and battery system housed in the garage, and a wood-fired Rayburn connected to a wetback and under-tile heating. Together, these systems are designed to keep the family comfortable and make the home work well in its setting, whatever the weather brings. The foundations were another carefully considered part of the design. We used StopDigging ground screws, installed by their South Island crew, as an alternative to conventional H5 treated timbers, concrete piles or a heavily engineered slab. Mechanically installed with minimal excavation, the system reduced ground disturbance and toxic timber treatment leaching into the soil - particularly valuable on this hillside site. The CodeMark-certified ground screws provided a practical and efficient foundation that worked with the site rather than against it. One of our favourite parts of the build is the generous deck, made from locally sourced macrocarpa. Beautifully finished, it looks out across the Tākaka Valley and catches the changing light throughout the day. It has been a well appreciated lunch break spot for our builders and tradespeople.  Deck with a view Craft in the detailsInside the living area, the precision of the negative-detail plywood ceiling brings a quiet sense of craft to the space. Its clean lines sit beautifully alongside the timber benchtop and kitchen cabinetry, while black tiles and fixtures add definition and contrast.  Carefully crafted funky functional kitchen Our clients have embraced colour wholeheartedly. Bold yellow in the living spaces and rich blues in the bedrooms create an interior that feels playful, warm and unmistakably theirs. It is a lovely reminder that a practical, resilient home can also have plenty of personality. Relationships at the heart of the buildRelationships are at the heart of how we work - our relationships with our clients, with the people who bring each project to life, and with the whenua (land) on which we build. At the beginning of this project, we came together in ceremony to acknowledge and honour the land, setting an intention for the work ahead and recognising that a home becomes part of a place and its ongoing story. Our clients have been wonderful to work with throughout the journey: flexible, quick to respond and open to honest conversations when decisions or challenges arose. Their warmth and sense of humour contributed to a positive and collaborative spirit throughout the build, and somewhere along the way, a great working relationship grew into friendship. The final piecesThere is still some specialised carpentry to complete. Bespoke hardwood timber panelling around the front entrance will soften and contrast with the Sandstone Grey horizontal corrugated cladding mirroring the deck, while the remaining interior work includes a window seat nook in one of the stepped sections, roomy wardrobes and a built-in office area.  Future window seat with a view After such a long road, it is deeply satisfying to see these final details taking shape. This home has asked for patience, persistence and careful problem-solving from everyone involved. Soon, our clients will be able to settle in and enjoy the place they imagined all those years ago. Benito Steen and Graeme Scott Course Collaboration |
 | The House of Opus, in Italy, is a building which was preserved under volcanic ash at Herculaneum after Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79. This is one of the oldest known examples of a timber framed building still standing and is similar to the half timber style well known in Europe. |
Asia
Jokhang Temple, the spiritual centre of Tibet, is a four storey monastery with parts of the building dating back to the 7th century. A centre of Buddhism, it boasts a fusion of different architectural and building styles from Han, Tibet, India and Nepal which have been added to over the years thanks to different cultural influences.
 | Japanese master carpenters first built the Hōryū-jiTemple in 607. After it was hit by lightning and burnt to the ground in 670, it was rebuilt, parts of it have been dismantled and repaired at least 3 times over the 1300 years. |
United Kingdom and Europe
By the Middle Ages these techniques were becoming more developed and refined and, in Europe between the 9th and 12th Centuries, traditional timber framing was reaching its pinnacle of craftsmanship. British master craftsmen were constructing buildings like Westminster Hall, this is a photo of the Hall’s stunning Hammerbeam Roof which dates back to the late 1300’s.
Some examples of 16th century timber frame buildings in Europe, including the town hall of Wernigerode, Germany, and homes in Rennes, France. The majority of these buildings used wattle and daub infill: thin horizontal woven wattles with daub made from a mixture of dung, mud, sand and straw that was pressed into the wattles.
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This granary at Weald and Downland Living Museum, UK was built in the 1730s. The majority of the structural timber frame is elm, but oak was also used, it is infilled with brick and has a thatched roof. To protect the grain from damp and vermin the building is up off the ground on sixteen stone staddles.
Aotearoa/ New Zealand
In 1700s Aotearoa, in Kohika in the Ngāti Awa rohe, Māori started using a wooden frame construction technique called mīmiro. “Māori … were effectively using carving to notch in, to make these sort of mortise and tenon joints, timbers could be interlocked without fixing, … [unfortunately] that practice has become increasingly endangered.” Professor Anthony Hoete.
Tane Whirinaki, constructed with a technique known as mīmiro (post-tensioning).
In the 1840s and 1850s iron nails were rare so settlers secured their frames with special joints and wooden pegs or tree nails. The most common jointing methods were the mortise and tenon, as well as dovetail joints.
What is our Legacy?
All around the world these ancient techniques have sheltered and housed people, created safety and a place to contemplate this human existence.
How do we want to be remembered?
What will people in 500 or 1000 years say about our building techniques?
Will your new home still be standing?
What will people in 500 or 1000 years say about our building techniques?
Will your new home still be standing?
As you can see through the ages, traditional timber framing is extremely versatile, providing the super structure to hold many different infill materials from wattle and daub and adobe, to brick and stone. Nowadays, as well as the traditional infills of strawbale, earth, hemp, timber, brick or stone, we can use SIPs panels (Structurally Integrated Panels) which considerably speed up the process of making the building watertight. What would be your choice of infill?
Traditional timber framing has a long history and proven track record of intergenerational structures - why not investigate building one with us today to
create your legacy:
create your legacy:
a truly sustainable structure that stands the test of time.
This blog was first published December 2024
Realising a dream
Is it possible to infuse a building with positive intentions? We think so. As we celebrate the completion of the Common House - the largest project Elemental has ever managed - we would like to share a little about our journey; to scratch the surface and go a little deeper into the creation of this remarkable building, that stands as the beating heart of the first Tākaka Cohousing neighbourhood.
Honouring the Land: Ceremonies and Blessing
Before the first timber beam was even milled, we had already begun conversation with the land on which this development was to be created. Liv drew on her ceremonial knowledge, passed down from her father who trained in the Q'ero tradition of the high Andes, to work energetically with the whenua, the land, communicating our intentions, requesting permission, and making offerings (with a despacho). At the start of the development construction Manawhenua Ki Mohua laid the Mauri Stone directly under where the touch stone would live once the Common House was complete. And ever since those magical beginnings, blessings and ceremonies have been woven into the entire process, cleansing and blessing the building at significant moments in the build.
The intention has always been to create a space where the community could be held in a loving, neutral space that would assist people to be able to listen and speak their truth.
The intention has always been to create a space where the community could be held in a loving, neutral space that would assist people to be able to listen and speak their truth.
Building with Intention and Care
It is clear now that this was never going to be “just a building”. For the whole team, this project was much more than building a physical structure, but something far deeper, and invited many opportunities to infuse love and care into every stage.
Traditional Timber Frame: Led by Graeme’s passion for traditional timber framing, the Common House is a unique blend of traditional craftsmanship, natural materials and more conventional non toxic materials. From locally sourced timber to lime plastered hempcrete, every part of the Common House tells a story of dedication, craftsmanship, care, and connection to the natural world.
Intentionally building this way, using non-toxic and natural materials, is not the conventional way, but we are passionate about ensuring a safe, healthy environment for both builders and residents.
For those that are interested, we will talk more to the construction details in a separate blog.
Traditional Timber Frame: Led by Graeme’s passion for traditional timber framing, the Common House is a unique blend of traditional craftsmanship, natural materials and more conventional non toxic materials. From locally sourced timber to lime plastered hempcrete, every part of the Common House tells a story of dedication, craftsmanship, care, and connection to the natural world.
Intentionally building this way, using non-toxic and natural materials, is not the conventional way, but we are passionate about ensuring a safe, healthy environment for both builders and residents.
For those that are interested, we will talk more to the construction details in a separate blog.
The Journey to Completion
Of course, the journey wasn’t always smooth. We must acknowledge the difficult circumstances under which the Common House was built—amid the global upheaval of the pandemic, skyrocketing costs, and material shortages.
After the slab was laid, financing hiccups caused a year-long delay, but in August 2023 vertical construction began again, much to the team’s delight and relief. After another year of hard mahi, we handed over the completed building to the cohousing community in September 2024.
We acknowledge how Graeme prioritised team wellbeing, leading daily check-ins that fostered connection among the team, and a weekly shared morning tea with the wider team brought a deeper sense of unity to the workplace.
After the slab was laid, financing hiccups caused a year-long delay, but in August 2023 vertical construction began again, much to the team’s delight and relief. After another year of hard mahi, we handed over the completed building to the cohousing community in September 2024.
We acknowledge how Graeme prioritised team wellbeing, leading daily check-ins that fostered connection among the team, and a weekly shared morning tea with the wider team brought a deeper sense of unity to the workplace.
We also want to make a big shout out to all the builders, tradies, and contractors who were part of this build – it was a difficult time to be building, and under a lot of pressure. Everyone worked incredibly hard to make this happen within budget, and we are extremely grateful for that.
Through it all, we held fast to our vision, guided by the belief that this Common House would one day serve as a warm, welcoming space. In moments of doubt or difficulty, we returned to the core intention: a place for community to connect.
Once the building was complete, Liv returned again to perform a final cleansing ceremony, preparing the Common House for its future as a space where community can thrive.
Through it all, we held fast to our vision, guided by the belief that this Common House would one day serve as a warm, welcoming space. In moments of doubt or difficulty, we returned to the core intention: a place for community to connect.
Once the building was complete, Liv returned again to perform a final cleansing ceremony, preparing the Common House for its future as a space where community can thrive.
A Living, Breathing Space for All
At the recent dawn blessing with mana whenua, we remembered the mauri stone laid earlier in the project—a symbol of life force anchoring the space. The crystal grid, set into the foundation, adds another layer of energetic intention, ensuring that this place holds balance, neutrality, and love at its core.
Looking Ahead
The Common House is just the beginning. In the next blog, we’ll dive deeper into the construction details—everything from the traditional timber framing techniques to the materials used. But for now, we celebrate the beauty of what’s been created: a Common House built with love, ceremony, and a whole lot of heart.
About Us
At Elemental Design & Build we create beautiful, healthy spaces using sustainable materials and traditional building techniques, offering conscious lifestyle choices that help our customers to tread lightly on the Earth.
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