<![CDATA[Elemental Design & Build

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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