A NEW DAWNFirst Light connects you to New Zealand living through design that places interactions between people and the outdoors at its heart. We create houses that embody the spirit of being a New Zealander.

The same core team that took the international design scene by storm are now bringing their unique combination of elegant design, livability and unmatched energy effi ciency and performance to you.

The original award-winning design has been refi ned to make it more spacious, better performing and even more aff ordable.

Let us take you on a journey through the next generation First Light home,and inspire you to experience the ultimate in New Zealand living.

BACH LIFESTYLE YEAR ROUND

A summer spent at the bach incorporates all the greatest things about being a Kiwi: living in and with the outdoors, making the most of the long sunshine hours, stoking the barbeque and spending quality time with family and friends. Wouldn’t it be great to live like this all year round? With First Light you can!

Small house, big space

True to its name, the First Light home takes advantage of the sun’s heat, light and energy. Open plan with warm, natural materials, this home feels great to be in. Sun fi lls the house from one end to the other providing light and warmth, keeping you comfortable all day, all year round.

When designing a small home, it’s important to create comfortable, fl exible space. We’ve used space sensibly to minimise the overall size of this two bedroom home. There’s no space wasted on corridors and circulation. Every part of the home is well thought out to allow you the fl exibility to live your life as you please.

With effi ciency as a core philosophy, all spaces are fi t-for-purpose and highly functional. The house, perfect for a couple, young or old, can be modifi ed quickly and easily to accommodate friends and family. The compact footprint belies the spaciousness and functionality of a much larger home.

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Life of the party

At the heart of the home where outdoor socialising and entertaining meet is the kitchen and dining area. Entertain small and large groups around a large kitchen island that will become a natural gathering point for all of your friends and family. Full height, glass bi-fold doors on either side of the space open up to a large timber deck that functions as a bridge between the indoors and the natural environment.

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Relaxed living

The living area is a comfortable and laid-back social space. A custom-built furniture unit can be used as a relaxed seating area or can be transformed to accommodate overnight guests. The materials used are warm, honest and homely and have been chosen for their durability and ease of maintenance. A wide full height window provides sunshine and natural light all day long.

Sleeping in

With two double bedrooms, the First Light home is bigger than its predecessor, comfortably accommodating a couple or small family. Located at either end of the house are two spacious bedrooms. At one end the master bedroom enjoys its own walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. At the other, the guest bedroom has easy access to the main bathroom and laundry. At both ends, you’ll enjoy a warm, quiet night’s sleep.

POWERED BY NATURE

The new First Light home is a small house with a warm heart. With ultra-thick natural insulation, thermally effi cient glazing and an air-tight building envelope you will be snug as a bug all year round. The home uses the sun to keep you warm and the breeze to keep you cool so you will always feel comfortable, naturally.

effi ciency the wall construction allows maximum insulation from the cold outside. An innovative double stud wall system developed specifi cally for this house, and over 160mm of insulation, reduces heat lost to the outside, keeping the warmth where you want it.

To test how well the wall construction performs we compared the new First Light home against the same house conventionally built to the New Zealand building code. The results showed that for 95% of the year you will be comfortable in your First Light home without any external heating or cooling, saving you money.*

Air tight building envelope

Poor air-tightness results in a draughty home, wasting energy on heating air that quickly escapes to the outside. First Light achieves a level of air-tightness not possible with traditional timber framed construction. Before you move in we will test your new home to ensure it meets our high standards of air-tightness and energy performance.

Timber framed windows

We love windows. They let the light in and give us warmth, but at night they are typically the thermal weak point in a building. That’s why we consider them the most important building element. We off er both double and triple glazed windows made from a timber and aluminium composite frame. All with warm, thermally effi cient timber on the inside and durable, stylish aluminium on the outside.

Naturally ventilated

Ventilation keeps you cool and your home healthy. We have opening doors and windows located to draw air across and through the home to provide you with natural, fresh air all year round. You’ll never have to worry about condensation again!

Thermal mass fl oors

The sun is our greatest source of energy and is used in the First Light home for passive heating. The position of the windows have been specifi cally tuned to allow sun to heat a high-mass fl oor, collecting solar energy to heat the home. Cool in summer, warm in winter.

Traditional NZ home

First Light

Built to current New Zealand building code

*Based on weather data for Auckland

$52p/a

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$570p/a

Cozy (18oC-24oC)

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Intelligent wall construction

Developed for its thermal

The home is extremely energy effi cient, using only a fraction of the energy of a new home built to New Zealand’s building code. With rising electricity prices costing you more and more each year why not build a home that pays you?

Solar hot water

Heating water accounts for one third of residential energy use in New Zealand. Specify solar hot water collectors on the roof to harness energy from the sun to heat your water... for free!

Solar energy

A pleasing discovery you will make when living in your new First Light home is more money in your pocket. With energy effi cient construction, LED lights & solar hot water the home uses less than half of the energy of a new home built to the New Zealand building code.

Bill the power company!

We not only endeavour to reduce your energy bill, we help you to eliminate it completely! We work with local suppliers of photovoltaic panels to provide you with an aff ordable means of generating your own power. Imagine selling power back to the grid!

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BUILT FOR SPEED

We have adopted a construction system that is revolutionising the New Zealand house building industry, and we’re leading the way. Our design team has worked to create the best means of constructing your home, without the usual builders’ pitfalls and on-site hassles.

Factory built Building houses on site from scratch is messy, wasteful, and outdated. We build all our houses in a carefully controlled factory environment and we are working at the leading edge of the industry. By making the most of the latest in construction technology, we build effi ciency and quality right into your new home, from day one.

Precision engineered

By designing our walls, roof and fl oors on the computer, and constructing them as individual panels in a factory, we take the hassle and room for error away from those working on site. Engineered panels are delivered direct, made to measure.

Speedy construction

The First Light process ensures that your new home is not just built for life, it’s built for speed. All the hard work is done prior to arriving at site and fi nal assembly is easy and fast. No expensive delays – we keep the building process in-house and under our control.

Quality assured

Your First Light home is built in an environment where quality work is monitored, checked, and rechecked before it gets to you. Our houses have achieved a Building Consent tick before they even reach your gate. We don’t just meet the Building Code, we blow it away.

Weather independent

Construction takes only a matter of weeks – no more leaving a partially completed building out in the elements while waiting for the various trades to turn up. All the component parts arrive fully fi nished and weatherproofed to withstand New Zealand’s harsh weather conditions. The house is pre-wired, pre-plumbed, and pre-painted.

Minimal site disturbance

Because we don’t need to make a big mess on site, we won’t make a big mess on site! By building your house in a factory, and erecting panels on site, you don’t have to worry about muddy builders boots for weeks and weeks. At First Light, we want to be in and out before you know it, with your new home delivered quickly and quietly.

No builder search

That’s right, you don’t need to fi nd a builder, we’ve already taken care of it. We involve only the best tradespeople in the industry with proven track records.

Trucked direct

Take advantage of our central building location, and have your new home trucked direct to site. All our materials are delivered direct to us, and then we deliver the house direct to you. No double or triple handling. No lost deliveries. No sending things back that don’t fi t. With First Light, your home will be working as it should, right from the speedy start.

Rapid assembly

Don’t blink, you’ll miss it! Houses don’t need to take months to build, and months to fi nish. At First Light, they won’t. After the foundations are in, give us two weeks on site, and we’ll give you a house. Depending on your specifi cations for fi nishes and your site, within the next few weeks you’ll be in your home! That’s it!

Performance verifi cation

How do you know you’re living in one of the most thermally effi cient homes in New Zealand? We’ll measure it for you. Traditionally built New Zealand houses leak air, day after day. With the First Light home, we make sure that you’ve got an air-tight house by testing it before you move in.

TREADING LIGHTLY

We build environmental sustainability into the very soul of your new home. We cherish our environment and have taken a scientifi c approach to how we design, build and operate.

Even building an energy effi cient home makes an impact on the environment. We performed a life cycle analysis on the Meridian First Light House to fi nd out just how much of an impact it really had. The study found that although the House consumed a relatively high level of energy to produce,

over its lifetime it would have a far lower environmental impact when compared to a traditional New Zealand home. In fact, in the long-term the First Light House will actually make a positive contribution to reducing overall CO2 emissions. With the new First Light home we have made

yet another leap forward. Taking lessons learned from this analysis we were able to reduce our initial construction impact. Through the selection of materials and an effi cient construction process we have created our most sustainable home yet.

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Low embodied energy

Throughout the home we use locally sourced, low maintenance materials with low embodied energy. We use plantation-grown FSC pine for all our timber framing, and thick insulation with high recycled content. Inside the home the walls are naturally fi nished in plywood for strength and longevity. We use low formaldehyde products, low VOC paints, adhesives and sealants. Many of our materials are recycled, made of recycled materials or can themselves be recycled at the end of their life.

A home for life

The new First Light home will last you a lifetime. It has been designed to adapt to your changing lifestyle as you grow older. Every home achieves a Lifemark rating, New Zealand’s highest standard for accessibility. Your new home will be a place you can be comfortable in for the rest of your life, no matter your age, stage or ability.

Reduced waste

In the factory, design optimisation and precision engineering reduces our material wastage by up to 60%, when compared to traditional construction methods. Using the latest in technology the home is constructed to precise measurements making the mostof every last inch of material.

DESIGN OPTIONS

The new First Light home is designed to be both fl exible and customisable. We have taken the time to develop a method of construction that is easily reconfi gured to best suit your unique needs.

2 Bedroom

The fl agship 2 bedroom option is perfect for those looking to down-size and up-spec. Packed with all the features you will ever need to live the bach lifestyle in year round comfort.

2 Bedroom deluxe

The highly customisable 2 bedroom version can be upgraded to suit your own personal lifestyle and taste. Extend the house to add a study and a practical second living room - a space to leave for the kids, or to tuck yourself away with a good book.

2 + 1 Bedroom

Where a little extra space is needed, why not add a couple of modules to customise your very own sleep-out, studio, bunk room, or granny fl at?

Arrange your site Set your budget Customise your layout

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Our custom designed range of interior joinery elements have been developed to match your style of living. Select your own First Light look from a simple palette of materials and tackle your power bill with one of our purpose designed energy packs.

Select your joinery Mix & match materials Supercharge your home

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Custom joinery Elemental materials Solar power

In a small house where no space is wasted, the walls become furniture too. The bedrooms are separated from the living space by two joinery pieces containing storage, lighting, and power.

The kitchen and dining experience is central to the life of the home. The large island contains storage and power at the kitchen end, and provides dining space for up to eight people. And after the big dinner party, friends can stay over!

Options for a deluxe sofa bed turn the living room into relaxed overnight accommodation.

A connection to the land is central to the design of the First Light home and the materials used refl ect this.

Key construction materials used within the house are natural, enduring and classic. Macrocarpa or Cedar weatherboards can be stained for emphasis, or left to weather, embedding the house within its surroundings.

A robust range of interior fi nishes can be selected to refl ect personal style and budget, from blonded pine linings to your choice of earthy-toned concrete or ceramic tiles.

To further enhance your energy savings, we have developed a range of solar packages catering to your unique requirements for energy generation.

We off er an array of diff erent solar technologies including highly effi cient photovoltaic panels and solar thermal water heating.

Whether you want to reduce your monthly energy use, never pay an energy bill again or get the energy company to pay you - we have a system to suit.

FINER FEATURES

Low-fl ow tapware

Cut your water use without compromising your luxurious shower experience! Elegant, low-fl ow fi ttings are installed throughout the house to reduce your daily water consumption… and to make sure that hot water in your tank lasts all day.

LED lights

The house is fi tted with LED lighting, manufactured right here in New Zealand. LEDs use a fraction of the electricity needed to power standard incandescents – or even fl uorescents – and contemporary LEDs are available in a great range of warm hues. But energy effi ciency is only one advantage – enjoy also smaller fi ttings, faster switching and a longer lifetime: up to 50,000 hours or 17 years per bulb!

Tilt & turn windows

European style tilt and turn windows off er superior insulation and allow you to eff ortlessly control the fl ow of fresh air through your home. Multi-point locking and weather-stripping satisfy the most demanding of construction and architectural standards for air-tightness, strength and security. Leave home and leave the windows open!

Energy effi cient appliances

We recommend a range of energy effi cient appliances for your First Light home to further reduce your energy consumption. Fisher & Paykel, engaged in much specialist R&D for the Meridian First Light House, continue to supply designer appliances that combine innovation with reliability and performance.

Heating, cooling and ventilation

We believe in seamless integration of environmental technology with interior design. If you require additional heating or air conditioning we off er a range of energy effi cient options that can be built in to the existing design aesthetic.

Online power generation monitoring

Keep an eye on the home’s performance even when you’re out of town. Find out how much solar energy you’re generating via a web-based photovoltaic monitoring system.

Solar hot water

Enjoy more hot water for less with a solar hot water system. We off er both fl at plate and evacuated tube solutions depending on your system size, location and budget. Your free heating begins at fi rst light.

Photovoltaic panels

We work closely with a number of photovoltaic suppliers in New Zealand to bring you the latest in solar technology. Whether you want to be off -grid or grid-connected, make electricity while the sun shines…

Timber decking

Beautiful, sustainably-sourced New Zealand pine decking runs right through the centre of the house, connecting you to the surrounding landscape. Like the rest of the construction, the decking can be sized and confi gured to suit your outdoor living needs. Warm, knot-free and silky smooth, you’ll want to walk around barefoot all day.

Landscaping

Whether you want to be immersed in sub-alpine forest, overlooking a coastal dunescape, or sitting amongst native birds and blooms, we can work with you to set your house in its very own New Zealand landscape.

THE FIRST LIGHT STORY

The Meridian First Light House, proudly taken to America to win a podium fi nish in a global competition, started life as a project within Victoria University in Wellington. With a keen focus on research and design, the team set out to take on the world, and show that a New Zealand beach house can perform way better than our country’s existing building stock. We succeeded.

From Wellington

It all started with four architectural students and an undergraduate design project in 2009.

In 2010 this undergraduate project became a fully-fl edged competition project, when our design proposal gained entry into the prestigious US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon. The design was then to be built and would travel to the United States to compete against nineteen other houses from around the world.

Ours was the fi rst ever entry from the Southern Hemisphere to win a place in this international shortlist. Ours is the fi rst country in the world to see the sun every day. First Light was born.

A buzzing offi ce grew out of Victoria University’s School of Architecture and Design, to accommodate the growing project and the growing team. This team now involved students from architecture, building science, landscape architecture, industrial design, tourism management and marketing courses.

To Washington DC

In the USA, First Light gained First Prize in Engineering and First Equal in Hot Water and Energy Balance. We also placed highly in other contests: Second Place in Architecture, Third Place in Market Appeal and, most importantly, Third Place overall in the Solar Decathlon.

The house has since scooped additional awards in New Zealand – including commendations in Sustainability, Clever Wood Solutions and Residential Architectural Excellence in 2011’s Timber Design Awards.

To Waimarama

After its OE, the house returned to New Zealand to settle into a stunning site above the sea in Waimarama, Hawkes Bay - a well-earned break for a most well-travelled house! Much like the house, the First Light team is also home and settled into studies and new careers around New Zealand.

The four of us have come full circle: we’re now back at the beginning with another high-performance, travel-ready house design and a fresh new architectural practice: First Light Studio. We’ve teamed up with Guy Marriage, registered architect and director of Building Science at Victoria University, and the fi ve of us are committed to keeping the First Light vision live… and generating!

Ben JagersmaMArch, BArch (hons)

Sales & Marketing

Anna FarrowMArch, BArch (hons)

Interior Design

Eli NuttallMArch, BArch (hons)Architectural Design

Guy MarriageMArch, BArch, FNZIA,

Architect

Nick Offi cerMArch, BArch (hons)

Communications

Meet the First Light team

www.fi rstlightstudio.co.nz

New Zealanders have a deep relationship with the natural environment, it is central to how we live and relate to each other. Our land is the fi rst to see the light. It shapes who we are – a people who are welcoming, friendly and relaxed. The land gives us a fresh perspective, an innovative spirit that compels us to create housing that nurtures our way of life and the environment we live in.

The Studio, Level 280 Adelaide RoadWellington

phone 04 385 3789email info@fi rstlightstudio.co.nz

www.fi rstlightstudio.co.nz