Bader Ventura, located in Māngere, Auckland, is a pioneering social housing development owned by Kāinga Ora. This project consists of 18 social housing units, a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments in a three-storey walk-up configuration. Initially, the project brief aimed to achieve a standard code-compliant build, but over the 12-month design period, the vision evolved. With Oculus at the helm as the Passive House designer, we led the integrative design process, steering the project towards Passive House certification - a first for publicly funded housing of this scale in Australasia.
At a glance
Address: 16 - 18 Bader Drive & 3 & 3A Ventura Street, Mangere, Auckland, NZ
Type of Project: Residential New Build
Project status: Completed in June 2023
# of Storeys: 3
Project Value: Undisclosed
Client: Kāinga Ora
Architect: Peddlethorp
Oculus Rep: Dimas Rodriguez, dimas@oculusltd.co.nz
The Vision and Our Role
Kāinga Ora envisioned Bader Ventura as a benchmark project for the future of public housing - one that would reduce energy use and costs for residents, lower carbon emissions, and drive industry change. Oculus was engaged as the Passive House designer, taking the lead in integrating Passive House principles across all design disciplines.
Our role was to guide the consultant team through the complexities of Passive House at scale, ensuring that the design aligned with the rigorous certification standards. This involved:
- Educating the consultant team on Passive House principles and their role in achieving certification.
- Iterating through structural, HVAC, architectural, and landscape design solutions to meet energy efficiency goals.
- Driving the team, alongside the Kāinga Ora Development Manager, to enhance the building envelope for both weathertightness and energy efficiency.
- Engaging with suppliers and installers to ensure materials, installation techniques, and quality control met Passive House standards.
- Providing construction-phase support, including responding to RFIs and ensuring site conditions did not jeopardize certification.
- Conducting the final blower door test, achieving an airtightness level that exceeded all expectations.
Results and Achievements
Bader Ventura is a trailblazer in public housing and sustainable design. As the first government-funded Passive House project of its size in Australasia, Bader Ventura sets a precedent for the future of social housing in Aotearoa. Among many great outcomes, the development achieved an 8 Homestar v4.1 rating and a 7 Homestar v5 rating, meeting MBIE’s draft Building for Climate Change 2035 thermal performance targets 12 years ahead of schedule. The result is an energy-efficient building where heating and cooling costs are approximately $1.00 per day—dramatically reducing energy poverty for residents.
Awards
2024 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards, Gold, Residential
2024 Property Council New Zealand, Excellence, Community & Affordable Housing Property Award
2023 Property Council New Zealand, Auckland Property People Awards, Excellence in Sustainability
Teamwork in Action
The success of Bader Ventura was driven by a highly collaborative approach, uniting architects, engineers, contractors, and industry partners in a shared commitment to sustainability. Oculus guided the integrative design process, ensuring that each consultant understood their contribution to achieving Passive House certification. Open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and hands-on industry engagement were key factors in overcoming challenges and achieving an exceptional outcome.
Recognising Excellence
Bader Ventura is a testament to what can be achieved when innovation meets collaboration. This project not only set new sustainability benchmarks but also brought the wider industry along for the journey- demonstrating that Passive House at scale is both achievable and beneficial. By exceeding Passive House expectations and delivering a comfortable, healthy, and affordable living environment, this project paves the way for future developments. A huge thank you to the entire project team for their dedication and expertise in making this vision a reality. Together, we’ve not just built homes - we’ve set a new standard for public housing in Aotearoa.
Project Manager: Kāinga Ora
Architect: Peddlethorp
Structural Engineer: Kirk Roberts Consulting
Mechanical Engineer: 2PiR Consulting
Construction: Precision Construction
Passive House Certifier: Sustainable Engineering
Supplier / Installer: Starke Windows, Concretetec, Kingspan
