A Village Designed for the Future

Riverlution Tiny House Village (RTHV) is an intentional community that combines affordable housing, sustainable living, ecological restoration, and community participation. The proposed village will consist of 22 independently owned Tiny Houses on Wheels, supported by shared infrastructure and community facilities.

The village has been designed specifically for the unique conditions of the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor. Unlike conventional housing, the homes are mobile, resilient to earthquakes, require no permanent foundations, and allow the land to remain adaptable for future generations.

Our Vision

This intentional community of tiny houses on wheels strives to cultivate a balance between our shared values of…

  • Community Engagement. We engage with each other and the greater community (present and past) to add social, environmental and economic benefits.
  • Test bed and knowledge-sharing. We test new ideas, embrace change and share our knowledge around alternative systems for housing and infrastructure, such as on-site greywater processing and composting toilet systems.
  • Kaitiakitanga. We live sustainably as environmental stewards, nurturing and enhancing the wellbeing of the land and acknowledging those that were here before.
  • Self-governance. We aim for egalitarian relationships by practising consent decision making.
  • Inclusivity. We live with integrity by respecting diversity and embracing everyone’s contributions and abilities.
  • Resilience. A community that can adapt and persevere in the face of change, e.g. natural disasters.
  • Replication. To build a framework that will enable future intentional communities to benefit from our experiences.

What Makes the Village Different?

Affordable Home Ownership

Tiny Houses on Wheels are more affordable than buying a traditional house. Residents own their tiny homes and sub-lease a site within the village, creating a more affordable pathway to home ownership than conventional housing.

Adaptable Housing

Tiny Houses on Wheels can be relocated if environmental conditions change, making them particularly well suited to hazard-prone land. Relocation also benefits owners who need to move away from Christchurch for changed family, work or lifestyle circumstances.

Sustainable Infrastructure

The village will showcase:

  • Solar energy
  • Rainwater collection
  • Natural greywater treatment
  • Composting humanure systems
  • Resource recovery initiatives
  • Community food production

Ecological Restoration

The village proposes indigenous planting, biodiversity enhancement, stormwater management, pest control, and support for mahinga kai practices in alignment with Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor regeneration objectives and local community values.

Community Participation

Residents are expected to contribute to governance, environmental restoration, shared projects, and positive neighbourhood relationships.

A Living Laboratory

Beyond housing, the village will function as a learning and demonstration site. Partnerships with researchers, community organisations, schools, and sustainability initiatives will help generate knowledge that may inform future housing solutions throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

Want to know more about who’s behind the village, or how you can help? See About Us and Get Involved. Got questions? Check out our FAQ.