A new era in affordable housing

The Government has opened its first "simple house" today - its answer to streamlining the design and build process to allow first-home buyers affordable housing.

Building and Construction Maurice Williamson opened the house, designed by S3 Architects' Stephen Smith and built by Housing New Zealand, in the south Auckland suburb of Otara.

A spokesperson for housing New Zealand told NZPA the home would cost $1835 per sq metre (including GST) and assumed that the section was ready to build on.

Mr Smith's design won the Starter Home Design Competition run by the Department of Building and Housing.

"Stephen's house was praised by the judges for its striking contemporary appearance and its carefully planned design that would make an excellent starter home," Mr Williamson said.

The Government's new Simple House solution was aimed at making a new house attainable for first-home buyers without sacrificing quality or architectural merit.

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Posted: 22 Oct 2010

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