A seasonal worker accommodation building in the Awatere Valley is a source of inspiration for sustainability.
The facility is the first of its type in Aotearoa to achieve a 7 Homestar Design rating.
Essentials
Name: The U House
What: RSE accommodation facility
Details: U-shaped building with two wings and two entry points; 362 square metres; 12 twin share bedrooms; bathroom facilities; large-scale open plan dining and living area, communal kitchen with two sinks, three cooking hobs, two fridges; utility room with washing machines and driers; heated drying area; landscaped outdoor recreation area
Location: Seddon, Awatere Valley, Marlborough; 25 kilometres from Blenheim
Occupancy: 24 people
Project certification: 7 Homestar Design rating version 5 (July 2025)
Project Snapshot
Owner: Steve Pellett and Bridget Ennals; Nikau Homes Ltd
Designer: Steve Pellett and Andrew Orchard, D&D Design
Homestar professional: Sarah Elicker, Gracely Ltd
Main contractor: Simon Pratt Building
Project timeline: site purchased 2008; design plans July 2022; construction April to November 2025
When two environmentally-principled grape growers embarked on an RSE accommodation project, sustainability and addressing the living needs of overseas vineyard workers were the drivers.
At the same time, they hoped to exemplify greener, smarter purpose-built seasonal workforce housing in Aotearoa.
“We wanted to show our viticultural industry it’s possible to design and build to a 7 Homestar standard – a specification which exceeds the Building Code – to provide quality, sustainable, warm and healthy accommodation for seasonal employees. This project is a good story for our sector,” says Steve Pellett.
The design of new building was modelled on an existing purpose-built RSE facility the couple developed on the site six years ago to replace an older house damaged beyond repair in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.
While that earlier purpose-built project was approached through a lens of sustainability, this time around, a decision was made to ramp up those green credentials and engage with Homestar.
As a former co-ordinator for the Sustainability Guardians Programme – a Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand initiative - Bridget had knowledge of the tool.
“Homestar was the system and protocol that would provide the framework and credibility for our project,” says Steve.
“We wanted to build an energy efficient house without going to the full extent of a passive house which would be excessive given the specifics of the project. Similarly, we didn’t want to over-capitalise the building.”
Fundamental in style, the building’s simplistic form - featuring basic gables and hips - allowed construction costs to be kept down.
“As a result, money could be saved during the build and better spent within the context of the house itself to achieve a high-quality internal environment for its occupants,” says D&D design director, Andrew Orchard.
While ECCHO modelling was undertaken within the constraints of a project with the building’s footprint, layout and orientation already in place, Homestar assessor, Sarah Elicker, says the energy simulation process delivered big wins.
“The route to achieving a 7 Homestar Design rating was clear – and involved upgrading the R-values of the envelope - floors, walls, roof and windows and improving water and ventilation systems.”
Key sustainable features of The U House include:
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superior slab: MaxSlab300 concrete slab with additional 100mm layer of poly underneath
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superior walls: 140mm timber framed walls (above typical 90mm framing); allowing for increased soft insulation
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superior water heating; heat pump hot water cylinders with a COP (Coefficient of Performance) =/> 3 (compared to a regular hot water cylinder COP =1)
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solar panels to run heat pumps
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uPVC windows retain superior heat due to high R-values; recessed in and fitted above the insulation line
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superior space heating; underfloor heating coils and radiators; all heated by heat pump heated hot water; building remains at a constant temperature
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water collected and stored from the roof is used inside the building for all purposes
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future proofing – earthquake resistant cladding; easy to maintain
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superior ventilation: Lossnay whole house mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery; refreshes air in all bedrooms every hour; expels excess moisture; keeps ‘group accommodation’ internal environment drier and warmer
During the project waste management was paramount:
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a high level of waste building materials were recycled including polystyrene, cardboard, soft plastics, metal, gib board and wood
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at the end of the project only one skip had been used for waste materials
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wood offcuts were cleaned up and used in other projects
tradesmen were encouraged to handle products once only and make the right choice in separation when disposing of materials
Main contractor, Simon Pratt, says The U House has been his team’s first experience of Homestar.
“We’ve taken away some sustainability ideas which we look forward to implementing on future sites. It’s been great to gain insight into how we can be more environmentally-friendly and efficient in the building space.”
Homestar assessor Sarah Elicker says the project has been inspirational – “framed by the owners’ commitment to energy and water efficiency and their drive to provide a superior level of comfort for their 24 guests.”
Going forwards the building will be leased to RSE labour contractor, Thornhill Horticultural Contracting, who’ll use it to accommodate seasonal workers primarily from Vanuatu, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Thailand.
“The U House is the pinnacle of quality, sustainable purpose-built seasonal accommodation in this country,” says Thornhill South Island operations manager, Alice Barnett.
“Our seasonal workers come to Marlborough to work in the vineyards and are away from their homes and families for six to seven months, working long hours, much of it through the winter. It’s so important at the end of the day they come back to a warm, dry, light and bright, fully-heated home offering healthy living and better well-being. Steve has thought of everything to make this accommodation the best - it even has colour coordinated doors, furniture and bedding.”