When designing your house in the Cook Islands, it’s crucial to respond to the climate effectively. As climate change is expected to increase temperatures drought and rainfall, adapting your home to the local environment becomes even more important.

Cost is often an overriding factor, and we can show you ways to build your dream home, within budget, without compromising the build quality, or construction materials.

Key design principles for the Cook Islands climate include proper orientation, solar shading using veranda roofing, and passive or active ventilation which are core elements for consideration here in the Cook Islands.

Window placement and type are particularly important; strategically positioning windows helps achieve optimal thermal comfort without relying on air conditioning. Double glazed windows and doors prevent heat being transferred into your home, and the use of louvers in certain spaces encouraging airflow are especially important.

Material choices for roofs and walls are also vital, as they influence heat transfer into your home, which is where we have focused considerable attention, bringing you high end options at affordable prices.

Water access and retention, power – either solar or mains grid, site access and data services must be considered at the design stage to prevent budget blowouts during your build.

Additionally, incorporating well-designed outdoor spaces can enhance functionality and comfort.

Follow us as we show you how we can help you achieve your dream home, right here in the Cook Islands.

Site Orientation

Your home’s orientation on the site determines how well it uses the prevailing winds and protects against sun exposure. These factors are dependent on your home’s location in the Cook Islands. Our sun rises from the east and tracks its way through to the to the west. Trade winds from the east prevail 75% of the time so the placement of your home can take advantage of the natural cooling effect this brings.

The heat from the sun, especially during mid – late afternoon, tends to be very hot and intense (typically, from the north).  Also, because of the sun’s low angle at those times, homes can be difficult to shade.

Prioritise rooms that need the most ventilation and locate them towards prevailing winds.

Shading

Shading from the sun prevents walls and other surfaces from heating up and transferring that heat to interior spaces. Direct sunlight through openings can significantly increase the internal temperature. Shading to stop direct sunlight from entering your home is ideal.

Verandas are a great way to keep the sun off the walls when the sun is at its highest during the middle of the day. This keeps the wall and decking cool and creates a cooler area to sit and relax. The larger the veranda, the more cooling you can help create.

Trees and shrubs are another great way to create shade.

Ventilation

Having a is critical for creating a comfortable indoor temperature. You can achieve this movement by allowing cool air to pass from one side of a room to the other. This action is called and occurs when air has an unobstructed path through a room or building.

Ideally, there should be at least two openings in each room. They should also be on two different sides of the room. You should also position them to encourage air movement throughout the entire room and not just one corner.

Having large windows and doors are good, but also consider the type of or door.

Louvers can be secured while being left open and allow 100% of the opening for ventilation, however if air conditioning is being considered, open windows will allow the cool air inside to escape.

Careful consideration should be given depending on how you would like to cool your home in the future.

Wall Materials and Construction

are generally better for house designs in tropical climates for their thermal qualities.

Concrete blocks, in-situ (cast-in-place) concrete, are preferred in some cases for their inherent strength, however this option can prove expensive and can have unexpected consequences such as sweating when the weather moves from a cold cycle to a warm humid cycle. You would have seen tiled floors become slippery on humid mornings during these events.

Materials such as WPC (wood plastic composite), wood, metal and cement boards on a framed construction system cool down rapidly. This process creates a more comfortable environment at night as these materials tend not to store heat.

Concrete walls when shaded appropriately can reduce the amount of heat they store. Likewise painting walls light colours can reduce the amount of surface heat transferred. Dark and dull colours can absorb up to 70-90% of the sun’s radiant energy, transferring this into the home.

Roof Design

The is the single most exposed area to the sun’s rays of any building and, as such, has the potential to radiate a lot of heat into a house.

Light-coloured, reflective roof covering materials reduce the amount of heat that passes through.

A also has benefits in reducing the heat that enters your home. Double roofs comprise two layers of roof. An air space typically separates the two layers. Hence, the upper roof layer protects the lower roof from direct sun exposure. This system significantly reduces the heat gain on a roof. A roof mounted solar system would count as a double layered roof.

High roofs and steep pitches allow the heat gained at that level to be a safe distance away from people occupying the space below, however this introduces extra costs, build time and complexities.

Roofs with a low pitch provide a more economical approach, however they take longer to get rainwater from them. With proper installation this is easily managed.

Large roof overhangs also help protect open windows from rain entering inside. Hence, the windows can stay open when the rain is falling. However, this situation depends on the direction the window and roof overhang face.

Water And Energy Efficiency

Climate change has heavily affected the world we live in, with experts forecasting that environmental conditions will worsen.

Those issues and the changing rain patterns we are experiencing across tropical regions are when designing your home in the Cook Islands.

Consider using sources like sunlight. You can use solar thermal panels for heating water. Also, solar/photovoltaic (PV) panels could generate electricity to run your lights and appliances.

Next Kit Homes all come with low-wattage lighting such as LED bulbs and energy-efficient appliances. We encourage water storage tanks, water-saving devices such as catching rainwater to store in your water tank, efficient toilets and shower nozzles.
All our homes will have the options to have water filtration systems which include a mechanical filter to filter out materials in the water down to .1um and a UV filter delivering potable water directly into your kitchen.

For more information download the complete file below.

Download Here

Composite building materials offer a combination of durability, low maintenance, cost savings and resistance to the challenging environmental conditions found here in the Cook Islands area, making them an excellent choice for construction in this region. Our materials offer several many benefits in our tropical climates.

1. Durability

• Resistant to Moisture: Composite materials, such as fiber-reinforced polymers or WPC products, are highly resistant to moisture, making them ideal for the humid conditions of tropical climates where traditional materials like wood might warp or rot.
• Corrosion Resistance: Composites are generally resistant to corrosion, making them suitable for coastal areas where saltwater and salty air can be harsh on other materials.
• Avoidance of Weather-Related Repairs: Composites resist damage from humidity, UV radiation, and saltwater, common in tropical climates, preventing costly repairs due to weather-related deterioration.

2. Thermal Insulation

• Energy Efficiency: Many composite materials provide good thermal insulation, helping to keep buildings cooler in hot tropical climates and reducing the need for air conditioning.
• Stable Temperature: Composites can help maintain a more consistent indoor temperature, enhancing overall comfort.

3. Low Maintenance

• Minimal Upkeep: Composite materials typically require less maintenance than traditional materials like wood or metal, as they don’t need frequent painting, sealing, or repairs due to their resistance to weathering and pests.
• Long Lifespan: Their durability ensures a longer lifespan with minimal upkeep, reducing the cost and effort of long-term maintenance.
• Capped Materials: Our composite materials are designed to be maintenance free for a minimum of 10 years. No painting saving both build times and ongoing maintenance.

4. Lightweight and Strong

• Ease of Handling: Composite materials are often lighter than traditional materials like concrete or steel, making them easier to transport and install, which is particularly advantageous in remote tropical areas.
• High Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Despite being lightweight, composites are strong and can withstand the stresses of tropical weather, including high winds and storms.

5. Resistance to Pests

• Insect and Fungi Resistance: Composites are not susceptible to termites, fungi, or other pests that thrive in warm, humid environments like the Cook Islands, unlike wood, which can be easily damaged.

6. Aesthetic Flexibility

• Versatile Design Options: Composites are moulded into various shapes and finishes, offering a wide range of design possibilities to match the aesthetic needs of tropical architecture.
• Colour Retention: Many composites retain their Colour and finish longer than natural materials, even under intense sunlight and exposure to the elements.

7. Environmental Sustainability

• Recycled Content: Some composite materials are made from recycled content, contributing to environmental sustainability. They also often have a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional building materials.
• Resource Efficiency: Composites can reduce the need for deforestation (when replacing wood) and the extraction of raw materials, supporting ecological balance in tropical regions.

8. Weather Resistance

• Withstands Extreme Conditions: Composites are engineered to resist extreme weather conditions, such as high humidity, intense sunlight, heavy rainfall, and strong winds, making them particularly suited to tropical climates.
• Avoidance of Weather-Related Repairs: Composites resist damage from humidity, UV radiation, and saltwater, common in tropical climates, preventing costly repairs due to weather-related deterioration.

9. Fire Resistance

• Fire Retardant Properties: Our composite materials are designed to be fire-resistant, providing an additional layer of safety in regions where high temperatures and dry conditions can increase the risk of fire, meeting Australia bushfire level attack AS 1530.8.1

10. Low Maintenance Costs

• Minimal Upkeep: Composite materials require little to no maintenance, reducing ongoing costs for repairs, painting, sealing, or pest control compared to traditional materials like wood or metal.
• Cost Savings on Labor: The reduced need for maintenance and repairs means lower labour costs over the life of the building.

11. Resistance to Environmental Damage

Reduced Mold and Rot Issues: Unlike wood, composites do not rot or grow mold, leading to savings on remediation and replacement costs.

Click the link below to download more information about our WPC products
Download here

• Q. What is WPC?Wood-plastic composites (WPCs) are composite materials made of wood fiber/wood flour and thermoplastic(s) such as polythene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polylactic acid (PLA). In addition to wood fiber and plastic, WPCs can also contain other ligno-cellulosic and/or inorganic filler materials.
• Q. Which is better PVC, WPC or Wood?WPC has more versatility in terms of density as compared to PVC. PVC is a costlier option as compared to WPC. WPC has more strength as compared to PVC. WPC is an extremely carpenter-friendly material. Wood requires expensive treatment to make waterproof and bora resistant. It’s prone to warping, rot, splinters and requires regular maintenance.
• Q. Is WPC waterproof?WPC sheet is 100% termite proof, waterproof, borer proof, fire-retardant, high-screw & nail-holding capacity.
• Q. What are the advantages of WPC?

1. 1. Termite resistance: WPC boards make good material for termite-proof furniture. This is one of the main advantages WPC wood offers over. In addition, these boards make a perfect solution for outdoor applications.
   2. Moisture resistance: Unlike conventional building materials, WPC woods are resistant to moisture. They make great material for kitchen and bathroom cabinets where the chances of moisture retention are high.
   3. UV rays resistant: WPC boards come in multiple colours. In general, the colour of the furniture kept outside fades in heat. WPC boards offer UV rays resistance, making them suitable for exterior applications. They are widely used in making facades, landscape items, flowerpots, and garden furniture.
   4. High durability: Durability is one of the essential benefits offered by WPC boards. They are not affected by rain, chemicals, humidity, and other environmental conditions. They are also easy to use. Conventional tools can be used to fix these boards wherever required.
   5. Eco-friendly: WPC wood is biodegradable. It can be 100 percent recyclable with recyclable materials such as wood, agricultural, and plastic waste used in its production.

Click the link below to find more information about our WPC Materials
Download here

Our new range of Kit set homes now come with Double Glazed windows and doors for better temperature and noise control.

• Our Aluminum door range is up to 4000mm wide, (Sliding, Swing, Accordian, Bi-fold) for stunning options.
• Aluminum Louvers, you bet. Our homes come with 600mm x 600mm Louvers or 600mm x 2000mm Louvers.
• All glass is Tempered and our windows meet standard: EN 14351-1:2006+A1:2010.
• Have a unique vision? we have partnered with architects and designers who can help turn your dream into reality, from the first draft to the final build.

Absolutely! A fully furnished package for a 2 bedroom including Oven, Double Door Fridge with Ice maker and water dispenser, Queen Beds, Linen, 50″ Smart TV, 3 + 2 Seater couches, coffee table, Breakfast bar stools and everything else needed (even tea towels and bath mats) is $20,750. Pricing varies depending on your Kitset size.

Next Home is currently working through the process to have our homes bundled up in a kitset format. Everything from our 1 Bed Studios to our 4 Bedroom Homes. Once we are confident with our shipping and supply options we will make this option available.

NEW ZEALAND ADDRESSES: It takes around 3 and a half weeks for our team to get the kitset together in Auckland. Final delivery will depend on where we are delivering it to. All prices include delivery.*

PACIFIC ISLANDS: It takes around 4 weeks for our team to put the kitset together. It will take around 6 weeks to deliver depending on shipping cut offs. We’ll be able to give you a more accurate timeframe when the order is placed. *

*For more customised kitchen, bathrooms and designs we may need to import from Australasia depending on your level of upgrades.

Wow! where do we start.

• Swimming Pools
• Decking
• Entertaining package
• Whiteware (Double Door fridge with water/Icemaker), just ask
• Sheds
• Garage
• Carpool
• Fencing
• Lighting upgrades
• Smart Home and switches
• LED light upgrades for inside and outside
• Pergolas
• Starlink installation and activation

Just call us to make an appointment for more details.

• We’ve got you back! typically 6-16 weeks from shovel to moving depending on your house size.
• Watch your home being built live, 24/7: From anywhere in the world, with our 360 degree camera & Starlink setup, you have full access to the build process.
• Have a unique vision? we have partnered with architects and designers who will turn your dream into reality, from the first draft to the final build.