We now have an online course and another in the pipeline to help you to kick start the concept design of your new home, and to find out more about the best in eco building and design!

1. MyHome :: Information Gathering

This is a fully online, untutored course where a combination of information and activities will help you gather together the information you need to start designing your own eco home. An important step in the design process, the more you can gather together beforehand, the more you will facilitate the rest of the design process. Content includes:

  • understanding the nature of your land;

  • creating your landscape brief;

  • understanding the nature of home;

  • creating your building brief.

The course works equally well if you have a small section or a lifestyle block. You can do this course as a preliminary to our MYHome :: Design Your Own Eco-home course, which will be available next year, or you can use it to work towards an independent project. Although the course reading will not take very long, it is best to allow a few hours a week over 4 to 8 weeks to gather together the information you need about your land and your project if you intend to do the MYHome :: Design Your Own Eco-home course.

The cost of this course is NZ $50. We only require one enrolment for a single person, couple or family developing the same single project.

2. MyHome :: Design Your Own Eco-home

This is a fully online course where a combination of self-directed study, activity and architect/designer facilitated teaching will help you create a concept design for your eco home. Content includes:

  • creating a landscape plan;

  • creating a house layout;

  • creating a coherent structure and form;

  • choosing appropriate water and power systems.

Over eight weeks you will spend time researching and working on your projects, and get together online fortnightly for sessions to discuss your ideas with designers and the other participants. Technology will allow the viewing of your plans and real time sketching of new ideas and suggestions from the tutor. Alternatively, you can hire your own designer and work through the course independently from the evening sessions.

You need to complete the MYHome :: Information Gathering course prior to enrolling in this one. Enrolment will be advertised and accepted once a date is set for the 8-week programme. We aim to have the first run of this course in March/April 2023.