Responsible Architecture That Performs Over Time
At Esse Architects, sustainability is not an add on. It is embedded in the way we think, design, and deliver projects.
For decades, our practice has prioritised low energy, resource efficient design, long before sustainability became an industry expectation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our approach is grounded in practical experience, technical understanding, and a belief that good architecture should endure environmentally, socially, and economically.
We design buildings that perform efficiently, age well, and respond intelligently to climate, context, and community.
A Longstanding Commitment to Sustainable Design
Our experience includes early low energy housing research overseas, long life hospital design, and high performance residential projects in the United Kingdom. This foundation informs the way we approach projects today across healthcare, education, commercial, and residential sectors.
Sustainable architecture, for us, means:
Designing for orientation and passive solar performance
Reducing operational energy demand
Selecting durable, low maintenance materials
Considering embodied carbon and lifecycle performance
Minimising construction waste
Ensuring adaptability over time
We take a pragmatic approach. Sustainability must enhance value and long term performance without compromising the client’s brief, budget, or operational requirements.
Proven Expertise: Rotorua NOW House
Esse Architects was selected through a national competition to design and manage the construction of the Rotorua Housing New Zealand, now Kāinga Ora, Beacon Pathway NOW House, an innovative model of affordable, accessible, and highly sustainable residential design.
A previous NOW House project, delivered by others, had experienced construction performance issues that compromised sustainability objectives. Esse Architects was not involved in that earlier project. However, as a result of those issues, we were appointed not only as architect for the Rotorua NOW House, but also as construction manager. This ensured that quality standards and sustainability objectives were fully realised throughout delivery.
Working collaboratively with Beacon Pathway and a BRANZ environmental scientist, we optimised both design and construction methodology to achieve:
Passive solar and low energy design performance
Carbon conscious material selection and low emission construction
Resource efficient building methods with minimal waste
Compliance with Māori cultural requirements
Full accessibility to Enable NZ standards
A modern, durable, and affordable outcome
The project also led to the development of our in house Wall Cladding Tool, a comparative system for evaluating cladding options against cost effectiveness and environmental performance.
The NOW House remains a benchmark for integrated, practical sustainable design.
Specialist Knowledge and Collaboration
Our team has worked closely with specialist sustainable design consultants, including a PhD qualified architect and former university lecturer in sustainable design, on projects requiring advanced environmental strategies.
Where projects demand higher levels of environmental performance, we collaborate with expert advisors to ensure design decisions are evidence based, technically sound, and aligned with recognised best practice.
A Practical, Value Driven Approach
We apply a wood first, low energy, and resource efficient design approach where it enhances value without compromising key client requirements.
Rather than pursuing sustainability as a checklist, we focus on:
Intelligent orientation and envelope performance
Smart material selection
Long life, adaptable structures
Reduced operational energy
Environmental responsibility aligned with client goals
We design with environmental responsibility in mind, ensuring each project is considered, practical, and built to perform over time.
