Episode 32: Offsite Construction - Andre Heller

In this episode, industrial designer Andre Heller shares how his diverse background, from boat building to underground station construction, has shaped his fresh approach to prefabricated housing. Through his company, Flexi House, Andre is redefining offsite manufacturing by prioritising speed, efficiency, and consistent quality. Their lightweight timber frame system, complete with continuous insulation and air barriers, delivers a minimum 46% boost in thermal performance over standard New Zealand homes with the potential to reach Passive House levels, making high-performance building more attainable. Andre also dives into his vision for making offsite construction as simple and accessible as ordering from an IKEA catalogue—dramatically reducing waste while transforming the way we build.