4walls Limited

04/07/2018

And to add to the party, we've just been featured in EBOSS - "a business tool for both architectural specifiers and product suppliers in New Zealand" - courtesy of Parker Klein at Speedfloor. Parker is one of the most 'straight-up' guys I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with, so thanks Parker for thinking of us as a case study for your products. The reason I went to Speedfloor in the first place was because their joists had the spans I needed for my prefabricated design. So, thanks once again, Parker - a great guy to deal with. :) Here's the link to the feature on EBOSS - https://www.eboss.co.nz/ebossnow/speedfloor-steel-joist-system-modular-design-by-nigel-young

04/07/2018

I was at the public event last night for the Collett's Corner design competition, and picked up a prize - 1 of 3 - for having "the courage to enter as a non-architect who came out of no-where" and submitted what one judge described as a "surprisingly sophisticated" entry. I was pretty blown away by such an affirmation from my peers - especially when I was in the same room as some outstanding entries from some outstanding architectural practices. :)

30/06/2018

I have just entered a design competition for a new building in Lyttelton. Its on the corner of London and Oxford Streets and is known as Collett's Corner. My submission is not so much a building, rather it isa large serviced scaffolding, intended more as a backdrop for community activities as opposed to a building which dictates how it can be used.

A picture of it is below. If you like it, please vote for me here:

https://ohu.nz/2018/06/09/colletts-corner-voting/

Voting is from July 2nd 8am - July 4th 10pm and the different submissions can be seen at XCHC (376 Wilsons Rd) July 4th from 10am - 7pm. All the contestants will be there from 5pm - 7pm on Wednesday to answer any questions. The results will be announced on Friday 6th July.

Just another WordPress site

30/06/2018

01/06/2018

My new website is now up and running thanks to the fantastic efforts of Caren Visser at girlinc.co.nz. She interpreted my cocktail mix of Mondrian, Richard Rogers and a magazine / academic look perfectly and more ... 🙃

We Specialize in Small Business Branding, Web|Graphic Design, Product Photography, Social Media strategy and Marketing on a Budget.

24/04/2018

The Olympus Shift - An Industry Comparison

In 1972, a lesser known Japanese camera manufacturer named Olympus launched a camera on to the market, one that sent the industry into a tailspin. Named the Olympus OM-1, it took all the development in 35mm camera technologies from the previous twenty years and redesigned it in line with current and emerging systems. In the process they made their camera bodies smaller and lighter, while at the same time easier to use in large Western hands.

Prior to this, the other manufacturers had been shoe-horning every new development onto their existing camera chassis’, making them bigger and bulkier and increasingly awkward to use. Olympus continued to use all the standardised components developed within the industry – film canister size, tripod and cable release screw sizes, filter threads etc, so there were no incompatibility issues within the wider industry. Yet the camera was a game changer, and forced a complete rethink throughout the industry.

The introduction of the Olympus OM-1 was a watershed moment for its industry. And the contention of 4WALLS LIMITED is that the New Zealand building industry needs an Olympus Shift.

We call it Herekorenga.

13/04/2018

Everybody wants a road map - we’re offering a flight path.

We use an aerial metaphor rather than the more conventional ‘road map,’ as the view from the road does not satisfy this situation. A goal of 30+ years and a ‘big picture’ perspective requires us to go up as well as forward in order to ascertain the size and requirements of 650,000 houses in the next 30 years.

05/03/2018

4WALLS LIMITED is endeavouring to contribute a cost-effective approved, building solution to the New Zealand housing arena, one that will put forward a viable construction and economic alternative to help relieve the pressure brought about by the massive social, emotional and fiscal issues that surrounds housing. To this end both these have been researched and modeled, with the AUT School of Engineering contributing their resources into the structural design.
Prefabrication is important to this process, with transportation and assembly being considered right from the beginning. This allows for foundation solutions that use a minimal amount of concrete, placing the home on the site rather than into it. Any need for post-earthquake re-leveling becomes a lot easier and less time consuming - and by extension a lot cheaper.