At Living Systems Development, we do whatever it takes to enable better ways of living together - in harmony with each other and nature.
Who we are
Living Systems Development was founded to reimagine how we live. We do whatever we need to in our mission to enable better ways of living in community with each other and nature
Peachgrove East is the first expression of our vision – a new kind of urban neighbourhood that supports community through homeownership, wellbeing, sustainability and quality design.
Living Systems Development began with a radical idea:
What if the way that we develop land, homes and communities could be financially profitable, socially connecting and ecologically restorative?
We’ve been around property and development for a while. We know there is a better way, so we set out to prove it.
Drawing on experience in engineering, property development, business, sustainable building, regenerative design and community development, we focus on creating opportunities for showcase developments that deliver better results and show the industry and public what’s possible.
Places are not static – they adapt and evolve continually as they respond to changing conditions and support life.
They – like us – are always seeking to express their potential in vital ways that make them useful, viable parts of their environment.
We bring this philosophy to urban development.
More than just fancy words, our approach is based on an in-depth understanding of modern complexity science – which recognises that complex, adaptive systems (CAS) operate by fundamentally different rules than more simple systems and machines.
Put simply, life is an expression of an interdependent and ever-unfolding process. When we attempt to constrain that indescribably complex process by imposing simplistic ideas on it, we are more likely than not to create unintended consequences and harm.
Our approach is based on over a decade of experience in applied systems thinking, regenerative design and complexity science.
Inspired by natural intelligence, we intentionally work with that indescribable complexity to identify patterns and work with them to support harmony, synergy and efficiency, so we can do and be more with less effort.
That allows us to build places that feel good to live in, and that support healthy connections between humans and between humanity and nature without wasting energy and resources on things that are not moving with the natural flow of things.
Like us, the places we live are always trying to move towards a better version of themselves.
Our job is simple: Listen and respond in ways that nudge the process along.
Our Principles
Keeping us accountable in ways that matter
Designed and built to endure
Our homes and shared spaces are built to handle whatever life throws at them — from extreme weather events to everyday challenges. Our communities work together, so when things get tough, you’re not facing it alone.
Sustainable living,
made simple
Having a low impact on our environment should not be rocket science, or require trips all over town to do your recycling. Our homes are designed to enable practical sustainable living through food production, solar power, shared energy systems and waste reduction initiatives.
A deep connection to nature
We spend time understanding the natural environment before we build, and design to support the health of the natural world, so you can live a life that contributes positively to Papatūānuku.
Healthy home, healthy family, healthy life.
Our homes are warm, dry and quiet, with gold standard mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, which means you’re likely to spend much less on medical bills, compared with living in a home built to the New Zealand building code minimum.
Low ongoing energy and operating costs
Our homes are up to 85-90% cheaper to run than homes built to the New Zealand building code. The components of our homes are built and delivered as a system designed for energy efficiency, which saves you money and minimises your impact on the planet.
A culture of sharing and support
Our neighbourhoods are built on the idea that we’re better together when we share. Whether it’s sharing tools, energy or even meals in a shared kitchen, a spirt of cooperation makes life easier and more enjoyable.
Meet our team
Ben Preston - Co-founder
With a career spanning the UK, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, Ben has been a long-time advocate of better, more sustainable ways of building. As a chartered Engineering Technologist, project facilitator and design consultant, he has been involved in a wide-range of projects including Barangaroo South commercial towers, Alphington Village, the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre’s (PICAC) Narre Warren facility, Tākaka Cohousing and more.
Rick Fourie - Co-founder
Rick is a national leader in the design, delivery and operation of innovative community infrastructure. He has spent the past 20 years growing various not-for-profit and impact ventures focused on supporting ripples of health and wellbeing in whānau and communities, and in recent years has become known as a national leader in innovative early childhood education through the Conscious Collective.
