Bio-Based Self-Build Architecture: Rethinking Self-Build Practices to House Aotearoa Communities

The dissatisfaction with the quality and availability of housing in Aotearoa New Zealand may lead individuals and communities to explore self-building as an alternative method of housing. This research examines the potential of bio-based materials in self-build architecture to address the housing challenges faced by rural Aotearoa, focussing on the small coastal town of Omaui, Southland. Omaui’s unique geographical context paired with intense weather provide an opportunity to evaluate an innovative housing solution that is both resilient and contextually appropriate. The primary objective of this research is to develop a self-build framework that prioritises bio-based materials, aiming to enhance housing quality, accessibility, and buildability. Through a combination of literature research, material experimentation, digital modelling, and prototyping, this research investigates how these materials can be effectively integrated into a self-build system that is accessible to everyday New Zealanders. By contextualising this framework through two site-specific house designs, this research seeks to propose an alternative housing approach, offering practical solutions that can be adapted to diverse sites around Aotearoa. The findings contribute to the wider discourse on self-build and bio-based architecture by providing a model for addressing housing challenges through bio-based self-build methodologies.