We are at the humble beginnings of exploring what is possible for the Village concept, the design thus far…

• Located on a rural property a minimum of 1.5h, around the hills above Nelson, 15 mins drive from Nelson - site yet to be found

• Off Grid - Each household will need to be equipped for rainwater harvesting, solar power and an incinerating waterless toilet (we are in a Lake Catchment area). With the intention for the design of the greywater systems to function collectively. And the possibility to team with Victoria University’s Sustainable energies department to design a Micro grid mini mart for our solar capacity to operate collectively

• The village ideally is made up of 1 2 Tiny House sites privately owned and 4 rental sites. House size is to be a maximum of 12.5 x 3.1 m2.  Homes are to built to code with a consent or at least a code of compliance, with the option to fix or secure, to make the Resource consent and future insurance straightforward for everyone. The Village ring road and sites will allow for houses to come and go as needed, after all Tiny Houses are transportable

• Each privately owned household’s site size will be equal and the exact layout will be designed when the site is purchased. We will be aiming for around 250 m2 for the privately owned sites and 170 m2 for the rental sites. At the Village’s front carpark each household will have its own carport and the option to close their carport in to create secure storage. More car parks will be available. Room will be available on the ring road for infrequent parking when needed

• The entire property will ideally be owned freehold by the Village’s not for profit company, ensuring a low risk investment. An equal share in the company will lead to a unit title or license to occupy being issued- depending on our legal entity. With the main objectives being equal buy in price for our startup core and initial buyers and ease of sale upon leaving. Our Body Corporate will manage the common ground, common buildings and rental sites. The unit title/ right to occupy model allows for the private sale of your site or should you choose you can sell your site and tiny home. At this inception phase, we are keeping an open mind of how best to go ahead with our short and long term needs, this will be refined by professional legal advice as we advance along the path.

• Common areas include car parking at the front of the property (with each home having its own carport), a ring road, a 10 meter deep native planted border around the perimeter of the property for grey water dispersion, a compost, central network of paths and green ways growing healthy fruit trees, berries, perennials, herbs, and summer veggies. A meeting house with simple kitchen, meeting/ dining area, loos, a shower and a shared laundry will be in the center of the village with a modest workshop for dust and industry and a clean creative space that could be a rentable treatment room, to be sited at the back of the carports. The earthworks will be designed to sequester heavy rainfall. While the softer landscaping will create a network of green corridors growing food, shade and beauty. Planted to maximise sunshine into homes and allow for privacy as well as incidental social moments and snacking!

CONCEPT  PLAN

The draft plan below is a only a general idea, think of it as the ingredients, the dimensions and the pieces. It will not be until we are on the land that we will be able to have a feel for what will shape our partnering with the land… the water hydrology (how water moves in and over the land). Weather, geographical and solar aspects. Road access, contours and simply what makes common sense.

However for those who need to see a picture, here is the above words in a picture form, kindly created by our Architect Bobbie Cornell .