These were really intensive two weeks project management in New Zealand. Of course the companies are not as big as Australian ones, in terms of production. But I’m really impressed with the capacity New Zealander have to keep a step forward in terms of housing innovation.
The two examples I’ve seen on Kapiti Coast, a cedar park on one hand, and a sustainable retirement village on the other hand, look like representing quite interesting business opportunities for the European market.
In terms of networking the Kiwi stage of the project was really impressive. In 2 weeks I’ve had more than 30 direct contacts, and on these 30 contacts I’ve had at least four of them having a direct interest for my business project in Europe, which is few and a lot at the same time, for such a period. It was the opportunity to better-know a potential partner in Wellington, as interested as I am in sustainable problematics and doing business around them.
In terms of things to improve, there is a big gap to reduce on insulation systems and houses structure for an important part of the housing sector. This concerns more the renovation market, on the middle-class houses. For sure it represents a certain market for the European manufacturers, because although the wheather is good, the energy savings have a large progress margin, and this is only possible by reinforcing the building structure.
I’m quite enthousiast after this stage of the project. If the Australian stage may have represented fewer but bigger contacts, the New Zealander stage has been a real opportunity to develop a big network with smaller actors, which is as much interesting for a low-sized consulting business like mine.
After almost two months, the Oceamex Project is already a success project, because it’s been a wonderful opportunity to develop a real expertise on what’s built and thought in terms of sustainable housing and building in the two big Oceanian countries. It’s been the opportunity of building a network of more than 50 direct contacts with companies and public organizations. Finally it’s been a strong opportunity to make my project better-known on these markets, which is already great, all proportions put aside.
Now the project is getting to French offshore territory New-Caledonia, 3000 km away from the north-east Australian coast. This stage of 2 weeks will be the opportunity to develop contacts almost exclusively with public authorities. It will also be the opportunity to develop and reinforce the already taken business contacts this project has allowed.
Enjoy the blog and talk to you soon
Pierre-Loïc
mardi 22 janvier 2008
samedi 19 janvier 2008
Geography and ecological business development
Yesterday I had a contact with a Dutch consultant, whose activity if to find the best eco-friendly place for a company to establish its buildings and save energy costs. As a both geographic and business guy, his project looks really interesting and has views in many parts of the world, like the Emirates and other countries. Sounds really interesting.
Look forward to talk to him again when back to Europe.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
Look forward to talk to him again when back to Europe.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
mercredi 16 janvier 2008
Meeting with a retirement village manager in Wellington
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Today I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a retirement village manager in Wellington. This person was very nice, such as all New Zealander I’ve met till now, and told me my project would surely interest his business development department. His company is really impressive, with high development potential in New Zealand, and a huge implication in sustainable problematics. The villages are here being built like mushrooms (typical french expression), and as the concept is new and answers lots of questions elder people ask themselves about their “last” housing, it has fore sure a very interesting future in Europe. I’d be very interested in helping them to develop their villages on the European market.
This is definitely one more really interesting business contact for me when I’ll be back to Europe. The Oceanian offer is not that developed on the European market, especially in terms of housing and building. It would be great for me to contribute to its development !
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loïc
Today I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a retirement village manager in Wellington. This person was very nice, such as all New Zealander I’ve met till now, and told me my project would surely interest his business development department. His company is really impressive, with high development potential in New Zealand, and a huge implication in sustainable problematics. The villages are here being built like mushrooms (typical french expression), and as the concept is new and answers lots of questions elder people ask themselves about their “last” housing, it has fore sure a very interesting future in Europe. I’d be very interested in helping them to develop their villages on the European market.
This is definitely one more really interesting business contact for me when I’ll be back to Europe. The Oceanian offer is not that developed on the European market, especially in terms of housing and building. It would be great for me to contribute to its development !
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loïc
Meeting with a potential partner in Wellington
Monday, 14 January 2008
Today, as a perfect term to this perfect day for the project, I’ve met a very interesting person in Wellington. This French business development executive has been working in New Zealand for one year now, as a freelance consultant. He is obviously really interested in sustainable problematics, especially on the housing and building sector, on which he already knows a certain number of companies and persons. I’ve implied him in the project from its start, and he can be a very strong relay of the project in New Zealand.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loïc
Today, as a perfect term to this perfect day for the project, I’ve met a very interesting person in Wellington. This French business development executive has been working in New Zealand for one year now, as a freelance consultant. He is obviously really interested in sustainable problematics, especially on the housing and building sector, on which he already knows a certain number of companies and persons. I’ve implied him in the project from its start, and he can be a very strong relay of the project in New Zealand.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loïc
Great global report on Kapiti Coast
Monday, 14 January 2008
The project is getting on very well, and I feel it’s giving birth to a very good interest to both European and Oceanian parts of the business, which is very encouraging. Many of you are asking me about what I’m seeing here and it’s really great.
I’ve made a really interesting report in Paraparaumu, on Kapiti Coast, in the north of Wellington. For sure this report will bring me a lot. Let me expose it.
First I’ve been through a really recent neighborhood of more or less 300 houses, with a very clear inscription at the entrance : “Cedar Park”. Indeed, houses look very eco-friendly, with a timber structure and timber decks, and cedar roofs and garage doors. They’re really nice and really translate the national will of being closer to the environment, by building still more sustainable houses. This report gave me the opportunity of taking interesting contacts on the kiwi building sector, and these contacts will surely be profitable for the future of the project in Europe. Look at the pictures below.
Then I’ve visited a very interesting neighborhood close to the cedar park. This is called “retirement village”. Houses are nice, eco-friendly, spacious, and have been built in a very safe village. In its centre you can find a medical centre, with rooms and new medical material, which confirms this village has been made for elder people, so to make their lives easier, safer and more human than some of our European homes for old people. I’ve taken pictures and videos of this village, and I’d be verry happy to get a contact with the builder and owner of this village. This kind of structure is called to grow a lot in Europe in the next years, and I want to take part of this development, by proposing interesting and experienced suppliers abroad, and helping builders to get the best service from these suppliers. The idea is launched.
See the pictures of these houses below.
As a last part of my report, I’ve had a contact with a collaborator of Kapiti Coast Council. This person is actually responsible for all sustainable projects in the region, and I’m sure this contact can really help me to develop my business network, so to be sure to propose the best services to my future clients in Europe. What is really interesting is that this person is now on a public side after a long experience in the industry, which means he knows what business implies as rules and difficulties. It’s definitely a very interesting public contact for me in New Zealand.
Enjoy the blog, and do not hesitate to get on with asking me questions and give me your comments about this project.
Pierre-Loïc
The project is getting on very well, and I feel it’s giving birth to a very good interest to both European and Oceanian parts of the business, which is very encouraging. Many of you are asking me about what I’m seeing here and it’s really great.
I’ve made a really interesting report in Paraparaumu, on Kapiti Coast, in the north of Wellington. For sure this report will bring me a lot. Let me expose it.
First I’ve been through a really recent neighborhood of more or less 300 houses, with a very clear inscription at the entrance : “Cedar Park”. Indeed, houses look very eco-friendly, with a timber structure and timber decks, and cedar roofs and garage doors. They’re really nice and really translate the national will of being closer to the environment, by building still more sustainable houses. This report gave me the opportunity of taking interesting contacts on the kiwi building sector, and these contacts will surely be profitable for the future of the project in Europe. Look at the pictures below.
Then I’ve visited a very interesting neighborhood close to the cedar park. This is called “retirement village”. Houses are nice, eco-friendly, spacious, and have been built in a very safe village. In its centre you can find a medical centre, with rooms and new medical material, which confirms this village has been made for elder people, so to make their lives easier, safer and more human than some of our European homes for old people. I’ve taken pictures and videos of this village, and I’d be verry happy to get a contact with the builder and owner of this village. This kind of structure is called to grow a lot in Europe in the next years, and I want to take part of this development, by proposing interesting and experienced suppliers abroad, and helping builders to get the best service from these suppliers. The idea is launched.
See the pictures of these houses below.
As a last part of my report, I’ve had a contact with a collaborator of Kapiti Coast Council. This person is actually responsible for all sustainable projects in the region, and I’m sure this contact can really help me to develop my business network, so to be sure to propose the best services to my future clients in Europe. What is really interesting is that this person is now on a public side after a long experience in the industry, which means he knows what business implies as rules and difficulties. It’s definitely a very interesting public contact for me in New Zealand.
Enjoy the blog, and do not hesitate to get on with asking me questions and give me your comments about this project.
Pierre-Loïc
samedi 12 janvier 2008
Recettes pour une maison verte
Have a look at this article in the french newspaper "Le Monde", 11-01-2008.
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3238,36-997925@51-998020,0.html
Special thanks to Vincent.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loïc
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3238,36-997925@51-998020,0.html
Special thanks to Vincent.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loïc
vendredi 11 janvier 2008
Networking expansion in Northland
Tuesday, 08 January 2008
Today I had the opportunity to visit a pilot house in the Bay of Islands. This was interesting because this company is typically an example of companies I would help to develop business in Europe. They look professional, environment-friendly and modern. This is a contact I absolutely want to keep, although their activity is currently more concentrated on New Zealand.
I’ve made a quick video report on their pilot house, and taken some pictures of its interior design. Look below.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
Today I had the opportunity to visit a pilot house in the Bay of Islands. This was interesting because this company is typically an example of companies I would help to develop business in Europe. They look professional, environment-friendly and modern. This is a contact I absolutely want to keep, although their activity is currently more concentrated on New Zealand.
I’ve made a quick video report on their pilot house, and taken some pictures of its interior design. Look below.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
Interesting sustainable meeting in Northland
Monday, 07 January 2008
I had the pleasure to meet today, totally on purpose during a landscape observing time, a well-known and influent French politician. This is a great coincidence because this person is particularly implied in sustainable environment problematics. He looked very interested in my project, and I’ll try as much as possible to stay in touch with him and his team for future projects in France, as I’m already doing with other public responsible persons from my entourage in France and Belgium.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
I had the pleasure to meet today, totally on purpose during a landscape observing time, a well-known and influent French politician. This is a great coincidence because this person is particularly implied in sustainable environment problematics. He looked very interested in my project, and I’ll try as much as possible to stay in touch with him and his team for future projects in France, as I’m already doing with other public responsible persons from my entourage in France and Belgium.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
Houses report in Northland
Monday, 07 January 2008
We’ve visited today an interesting neighborhood in Orewa, in Northland. It’s interesting to see that there is a mix between nice lumber houses and modern sustainable homes. Till now, I can say it represents quite well the New Zealand housing style, mixing modern and ancient, always in an environment-friendly way.
Look at the pictures below.
Look at the pictures below.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
jeudi 10 janvier 2008
Auckland, modern buildings on the port
Sunday, 6 January 2008
The project is in New Zealand. After an interesting walk in the CBD, we’ve crossed the port, seen the wonderful New Zealander America’s Cup boat, and then walked along very nice and modern buildings. First impression : they’re all really grey, such as many modern buildings or houses we’ve seen before in Australia. Is there something behind that ? Question to resolve.
You can have a look on the pictures below, representing as well private buildings as companies offices, like Vodafone, Microsoft, HP, PWC or KPMG. It would be interesting to get a contact with their builders, so to know why everything’s so grey, and if they are as sustainable as they look.
You can have a look on the pictures below, representing as well private buildings as companies offices, like Vodafone, Microsoft, HP, PWC or KPMG. It would be interesting to get a contact with their builders, so to know why everything’s so grey, and if they are as sustainable as they look.
Good thing to say, Auckland city has installed sun energy horodators in streets. It’s something usual in Oceania, and it’s always good to see.
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
dimanche 6 janvier 2008
After Australia, New Zealand now
The project is getting on with New Zealand, with housing market observation, picture reports and networking development. Hopefully contacts will be as interesting as in Australia !
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
Enjoy the blog
Pierre-Loic
vendredi 4 janvier 2008
Perspectives on sustainable housing business development between Australia and Europe
After 5 weeks exploring the south side of Australia, through houses pictures reports and meetings with housing market actors, I’m quite happy to see lots of perspectives for the European housing and building market development. As potential suppliers, Australian builders and architects look like covering a real technological pioneer role.
In terms of housing, Australians want to keep before anything else an environmental-friendly quality. They’re building houses in direct proximity with the green and marine environment they’re living in, and it’s something we can observe on the new houses, which is really encouraging. As an example, they’ve built in Torquay, one of the most interesting cities in terms of tourism in Southern Australia, a new neighborhood, named Ocean Beach, composed of very modern houses, in the aim of attracting an upper category of Melbourne and Sydney people, interested in the surf beaches, in a very modern way of building, but also interested in environmental-friendly houses, well-inserted in their direct environment.
Thanks to the meetings I’ve had with architects and houses builders, I can now say that Australians have already worked a lot on sustainable ways of building houses. They’re totally advanced on this point and look really strong in front of the North-American and North-European builders.
In terms of competitivity, the geographic proximity between Australia on one hand and China and India on the other hand are very relevant advantages for Australians manufacturers. The competitive aspect added to this geographical proximity represents a guarantee of quality control on products, one thing they say as one their first priorities.
More than these business opportunities with manufacturers and builders, the first contacts I’ve made with the governmental authorities, for instance in Western Australia, are really interesting. On one hand I’ve had a contact with the foreign trade department, and on the other hand with the Australian foreign trade commission, which is still closer to the market and implied in their business development. These first contacts represent a real interest from Australian companies and authorities to develop sustainable building, and global building market, with Europe. Although these contacts are till now purely formal introductions, I’ll make sure they can represent a gateway to developing global business partnerships between European and Australian companies.
Furthermore, I’ll make sure all this information and all these contacts will get further by proposing an interesting marketing and business development support supply to both European and Australian sides.
Enjoy the blog.
Pierre-Loïc
In terms of housing, Australians want to keep before anything else an environmental-friendly quality. They’re building houses in direct proximity with the green and marine environment they’re living in, and it’s something we can observe on the new houses, which is really encouraging. As an example, they’ve built in Torquay, one of the most interesting cities in terms of tourism in Southern Australia, a new neighborhood, named Ocean Beach, composed of very modern houses, in the aim of attracting an upper category of Melbourne and Sydney people, interested in the surf beaches, in a very modern way of building, but also interested in environmental-friendly houses, well-inserted in their direct environment.
Thanks to the meetings I’ve had with architects and houses builders, I can now say that Australians have already worked a lot on sustainable ways of building houses. They’re totally advanced on this point and look really strong in front of the North-American and North-European builders.
In terms of competitivity, the geographic proximity between Australia on one hand and China and India on the other hand are very relevant advantages for Australians manufacturers. The competitive aspect added to this geographical proximity represents a guarantee of quality control on products, one thing they say as one their first priorities.
More than these business opportunities with manufacturers and builders, the first contacts I’ve made with the governmental authorities, for instance in Western Australia, are really interesting. On one hand I’ve had a contact with the foreign trade department, and on the other hand with the Australian foreign trade commission, which is still closer to the market and implied in their business development. These first contacts represent a real interest from Australian companies and authorities to develop sustainable building, and global building market, with Europe. Although these contacts are till now purely formal introductions, I’ll make sure they can represent a gateway to developing global business partnerships between European and Australian companies.
Furthermore, I’ll make sure all this information and all these contacts will get further by proposing an interesting marketing and business development support supply to both European and Australian sides.
Enjoy the blog.
Pierre-Loïc
jeudi 3 janvier 2008
Queensland
We’ve crossed Queensland through Gold Coast, Brisbane, Burnett Heads, Agnes Water, 1770 Town, Miriam Vale, Monto, Eilsvold, Gympie, Noosa. This is a typical Australian region. Big houses on big lands, sometimes in the middle of nowhere. Most of the time they’re built in lumber, with very weak insulation systems.
I’ve noticed that you can find red cedar in Australia. Wood is good ! Special thoughts to my Canadian friends at CMHC… See picture below, taken close to Brisbane modern art gallery, in South Bank.
I’ve noticed that you can find red cedar in Australia. Wood is good ! Special thoughts to my Canadian friends at CMHC… See picture below, taken close to Brisbane modern art gallery, in South Bank.
Apart from that, I haven’t picked up a lot of information in this state. Nevertheless I have improved my network in Australia with some interesting real estate contacts in Brisbane and surroundings, and that's already interesting.
Enjoy the blog, and happy sustainable year 2008 !
May this year be an extraordinary year for sustainable housing and building in Europe.
Best regards,
Pierre-Loic
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