Site refresh

March 29, 2019

It has been summer here in Auckland and kelp has been busy outside, hence the gap in posts, and lack of new content.

I have decided to revisit the content of the site, based on an idea that was put to me last year 2018. The idea was that the site could morph into an open source git hosted repository of information and how-to's for Auckland character and heritage building owners. There will hopefully be multiple contributors. This is likely to move to a new domain.

As a first step, I have removed the extraneous, personal 'kelp' content. I will establish a separate site for this.

Bee Boxes

October 30, 2018

Kelp Strewn

This new page is about how to build New Zealand standard size langstroth beehives and frames. Dimensions and plan drawings are included.

GGHG and old houses

September 17, 2018

Kelp Strewn

This new page is about sustainability and old buildings, with a focus on old houses.

The best paper that I have found on old buildings and gross greenhouse emissions is by Dr Noni Boyd, initially from Wellington, trained in Auckland, and then acheiving success in the building conservation field in Sydney.

Here are the conclusions regarding GGHG and old houses:-

Don't demolish, extend the life of your building.
Retrofit; insulation, led lights, solar hot water.
Build the minimum, or not at all.
Build in timber.
Change behaviours, open windows and doors daily, at the warmest time. Turn off the lights.
Don't use steady state heating for the whole house, consider using an efficient woodburner, and get your wood from nearby.

Drawing a context

September 4, 2018

Kelp Strewn

New page on context analysis.

Drawing a context

A site and context analysis may be made using scale drawings. Often hand drawings are best, as a high level of accuracy is not necessary. Rather, it is the intention that is important. An analysis which identifies, evaluates and communicates the important issues, in a way that can inform a design response is best. It is best to make the analysis commensurate with the issues.

How this site was made.

July 30, 2018

Kelp Strewn

New landing page and tech credits

The landing page is an experiment in the use of css grid layout, with disqus comments added. Please leave a comment. The result is minimal css that I can more or less understand.