A unique specification of high-performance building materials made for New Zealanders
for optimum health and comfort, naturally
A Smarter Way to Build
At Innate Spec, we curate the best materials and design principles to create spaces that elevate your well-being. Buildings designed and built to the Innate Spec are engineered for health, comfort, and longevity, using only proven, industry-leading materials sourced responsibly.
We’re not reinventing the wheel. We’re bringing together the most advanced, proven materials and smart design principles to create spaces that stand apart.
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Free from nasty chemicals, built with breathable natural materials
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Superior insulation and thermal mass, passive solar design, and natural materials that regulate temperature and humidity
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Designed to last, every material and design feature will stand the test of time
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Nearly every material is sourced using New Zealand raw materials and manufactured here, supporting our industries and communities
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The very top of natural, sustainable, and high-performing materials that won’t end up in landfill
TimberTone™
TimberTone™ Blocks are a natural building material made using New Zealand-grown hemp, West Coast Beech, and GeoBind - a NZ made proprietary lime binder that provides exceptional thermal insulation, breathability, and durability while actively absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. These fire-resistant, non-toxic, and highly sustainable blocks create a home that stays comfortable year-round with minimal energy use.
✔ Superior Insulation & Thermal Mass – Regulates temperature and humidity.
✔ Breathable & Non-Toxic – Improves indoor air quality with zero VOCs.
✔ Fire, Pest & Mold Resistant – Built for longevity and durability.
✔ Carbon-Negative – Absorbs more CO₂ than is emitted during production.
✔ Made in New Zealand
West Coast Beech
Flooring, decking, furniture and more.
Sourced from New Zealand’s sustainably managed forests, West Coast Beech is a premium hardwood with a warm, natural aesthetic and exceptional durability. Its fine grain, workability, and strength make it an ideal choice for flooring, countertops, decking, feature cladding, and interior paneling.
✔ Perfect for Flooring & Countertops – Hardwearing and naturally stunning with rich tones.
✔ Durable & Weather-Resistant Decking – Long-lasting, high-performance timber.
✔ Beautiful Interior Paneling & Cladding – Adds warmth, texture, and natural character.
✔ Locally & Sustainably Sourced – Grown in NZ, supporting responsible forestry.
✔ Healthy & Chemical-Free – No toxic treatments, ensuring a safe and natural indoor environment.
✔ Made in New Zealand
Blade Piles
Concrete and polystyrene foundations are wasteful, carbon-heavy, and outdated. That’s why we specify Blade Pile NZ ground screws—made in New Zealand, engineered for strength, and designed to perform in all soil conditions without the mess, delays, or environmental harm.
✔ No Concrete. No Polystyrene. – Just precision-installed ground screws that go in fast, with no digging or curing time.
✔ NZ-Made & CodeMark Certified – Fully compliant and built for local conditions.
✔ Lower Impact, Lower Carbon – A cleaner, more sustainable way to build from the ground up.
✔ Reusable & Relocatable – Perfect for adaptable structures and off-grid homes.
✔ Compatible with Any Soil – From clay to sand, Blade Piles get the job done.
✔ Made in New Zealand
Joists & Bearers
Prolam Engineered Timber is proudly New Zealand-made, combining natural beauty with high-performance engineering. Prolam offers precision-crafted joists and bearers that deliver structural integrity and aesthetic appeal — with untreated options ideal for internal spaces, and MCA-treated timber for a more responsible alternative to CCA treatment for durable outdoor use.
✔ Engineered for Strength & Stability – Designed to handle high load demands
✔ Naturally Beautiful – Clean lines and smooth finishes stained any colour
✔ Sustainably Sourced – Responsibly produced with minimal waste
✔ Precision-Crafted – Uniform quality for a reliable, high-performance foundation
✔ Made in New Zealand
Natural Paints
Natural Paint Co. offers high-performance, plant and mineral-based paints that enhance indoor air quality, support breathable wall systems, and provide lasting beauty. Free from harmful chemicals, these eco-friendly, locally made paints are the perfect finishing touch for a healthy, sustainable home.
✔ Breathable & Compatible with Hempcrete & Plasters – Works seamlessly with natural wall materials, allowing moisture to pass through and preventing mold.
✔ Healthier Indoor Air Quality – Zero VOCs and toxic-free ingredients
✔ Sustainable Ingredients – Made from plant and clay-based materials
✔ Exceptional Durability – Washable and resist peeling, flaking, and cracking.
✔ Made in New Zealand
Natural oils
Osmo natural oils provide superior durability and a breathable finish, enhancing the natural beauty of timber while protecting it from wear and moisture. Made from plant-based oils and waxes, Osmo finishes are safe, non-toxic, and designed to work seamlessly with solid wood flooring, countertops, decking, cladding, and interior paneling.
✔ Deep Nourishment & Protection – Penetrates timber for long-lasting durability without forming a plastic-like surface.
✔ Breathable & Works with Natural Materials – Allows wood to regulate moisture, preventing cracking and peeling.
✔ Non-Toxic & Safe for Indoor Air Quality – Free from harmful chemicals, perfect for homes with children and pets.
✔ Water & Stain Resistant – Repels spills while maintaining a natural, matte-to-satin finish.
✔ Easy Maintenance & Spot Repairable – Unlike polyurethane, Osmo can be refreshed without sanding the entire surface.
Wool Insulation
Terra Lana wool insulation delivers excellent thermal and acoustic performance while supporting a healthy, natural indoor environment. Crafted from New Zealand sheep’s wool blended with recycled fibres, it’s a breathable, moisture-managing solution ideal for ceilings and underfloors in eco-conscious homes.
✔ Superior Thermal Performance – Keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer.
✔ Breathable & Moisture-Regulating – Allows walls to breathe, reducing the risk of condensation and mold.
✔ Non-Toxic & Safe to Handle – Gentle on skin and lungs, with no harmful chemicals or synthetic irritants.
✔ Renewable & Low-Carbon – Made from sustainably sourced wool and recycled materials.
✔ Ideal for Natural Building – Pairs well with hempcrete, timber, and breathable plasters.
✔ Made in New Zealand
Heating
Handcrafted in Christchurch using New Zealand steel, the Woodsman Serene is an Ultra Low Emission Burner (ULEB) designed for clean, efficient heating. While heating is rarely needed in breathable hempcrete homes, the Serene offers a sustainable, locally made option for extra warmth in the colder months.
✔ ULEB Certified – Meets strict emission standards, eco-friendly for all NZ regions.
✔ Wetback & Central Heating Compatible – Can provide hot water and connect to radiator systems.
✔ Efficient & Functional – 8.5kW output with a durable steel cooktop.
✔ Made in New Zealand
Wool Carpet
Made in New Zealand from 100% sustainably grown wool, Godfrey Hurst carpets offer luxury, durability, and natural insulation. With exceptional softness and resilience, they create a comfortable, healthy indoor environment while supporting local farmers and ecosystems.
✔ Natural Insulation – Regulates temperature and absorbs sound for a quieter home.
✔ Durable & Resilient – Maintains texture and appearance even in high-traffic areas.
✔ Hypoallergenic & Air-Purifying – Absorbs pollutants and regulates humidity.
✔ Stain & Soil Resistant – Naturally repels dirt and spills, making maintenance easy.
✔ Sustainably Sourced – Ethically harvested wool, supporting NZ farmers.
✔ Made in New Zealand
Design Builders
Design & Build Partner
For over 30 years, Design Builders has been redefining bespoke home design in New Zealand. Their collaborative approach ensures each home is a true reflection of its owner, blending creativity, innovation, and expert craftsmanship. By working closely with clients, architects, and trusted partners like Innate Homes, they bring forward-thinking solutions and exceptional attention to detail to every project.
Why Design Builders?
✔ True Partnership – A personalized approach, guiding you from concept to completion.
✔ Innovative, Tailored Solutions – Homes designed for your lifestyle and site.
✔ Award-Winning Craftsmanship – Recognized for outstanding quality and originality.
✔ Built to Last – Combining experience, creativity, and the best materials available.
✔ Nationwide Presence – Delivering exceptional homes throughout New Zealand.
What is TimberTone™?
Hempcrete blocks, made better in New Zealand
Hemp Hurd
A byproduct of the New Zealand industrial hemp industry, hemp hurd is the cellulose inner core of the stem. We finally have multiple hurd processing facilities in New Zealand, most notably Rubisco in Christchurch. This was for many years one of the key missing components to bring hempcrete into mainstream construction.
GeoBind Binder
Thanks to Doug Sturrock, with the support of Callaghan Innovation and many others, we finally have an exceptional hempcrete binder made in New Zealand, using New Zealand ingredients. The impact of this development on the progress of hempcrete could not be understated. Learn more here.
Beech Particles
A small dose of finely processed West Coast beech improves compaction, curing, and overall block strength. Acting as a natural micro-filler, it tightens the mix, enhances insulation, and speeds up drying—all while maintaining breathability. This performance-driven blend is called TimberTone™.
International momentum
The approximate number of hempcrete homes built internationally since 2012, from around 500 to over 50,000.
What’s the big deal?
Indoor air quality
TimberTone™ hempcrete blocks keep your home naturally warm and dry by regulating moisture and providing high insulation, preventing dampness and mold. Its thermal mass stores and releases heat slowly, maintaining a stable indoor temperature year-round. Made from natural, non-toxic materials, hempcrete is free from VOCs and synthetic chemicals, creating a breathable, healthy living environment with optimum air quality.
Comfort
It’s nearly impossible to explain what it feels like to walk into a hempcrete home. It sounds different, it feels different.
Hempcrete enhances comfort by creating a quiet, peaceful living environment with its excellent acoustic properties, reducing external noise and echo. Its breathable, vapour-permeable structure prevents stuffiness and maintains fresh indoor air, while its thermal mass ensures a steady, natural warmth without overheating. The result is a home that feels consistently cozy, tranquil, and inviting year-round.
Environmental impact
Hempcrete is one of the most sustainable building materials available, actively absorbing CO₂ during the growth of hemp and continuing to sequester carbon within the walls of a home. Made from renewable, biodegradable materials, it has a low environmental footprint compared to traditional construction. Hempcrete is also non-toxic, requires minimal processing, and contributes to healthier ecosystems by reducing reliance on synthetic insulation and high-emission materials like concrete and plasterboard.
Local and long-lasting
Hempcrete is made from natural, locally sourced materials, reducing transportation emissions and supporting regional industries. Built to last, it does not rot, degrade, or require synthetic treatments, offering exceptional durability with minimal maintenance. Over time, hempcrete continues to harden, increasing its strength while maintaining breathability. This combination of local sourcing and long-term performance ensures a sustainable, resilient home that stands the test of time.
Who are we?
Innate Spec is led by Guido and Nick, the team behind Innate Furniture, now applying their expertise to sustainable building. Guido has spent well over a decade working with natural building materials and local manufacturing, pioneering the use of unconventional materials in New Zealand. He presented at the International Hemp Building Association Symposium in 2012 and has built relationships with leading hempcrete builders in Australia, Europe, and America, refining a system tailored to New Zealand’s climate.
Nick brings a background in industrial design, with a sharp eye for function, form, and the finer details that make buildings feel good to live in. His years of hands-on experience—from furniture making to building design—have shaped a deep understanding of how materials behave and how spaces can support wellbeing. He’s passionate about creating things that matter: structures that are beautiful, resilient, and connected to something greater than trends. For Nick, it’s not just about sustainability—it’s about significance.
With a shared background in bringing innovative materials to market, we are focused on bridging the gap between sustainable construction and mainstream adoption. Our homes integrate conscious design with hempcrete, screwpile foundations, post and beam framing, NZ-grown timbers, natural oil finishes, wool insulation, natural paints, and vapour-permeable systems—creating healthy, durable, and energy-efficient spaces. By collaborating with local manufacturers, designers, and builders, we are developing a scalable framework that supports the future of natural, high-performance buildings in New Zealand.
Alex Caddick
General Manager, Design Builders Canterbury
Alex Caddick is a seasoned builder and visionary leader at the helm of Design Builders Canterbury.
With years of experience in custom, high-end residential builds, Alex has earned a reputation for his precision, professionalism, and genuine care for every detail. More than a builder, he’s a trusted guide - supporting homeowners through every step of the process, from concept to completion.
Alex is deeply passionate about the direction the building industry is heading. He sees immense opportunity in new materials, better systems, and smarter ways of building - especially through local, sustainable innovation. His alignment with Innate Spec is rooted in shared values: craftsmanship, environmental responsibility, and creating homes that support wellbeing.
We’re proud to partner with Alex and the team at Design Builders to deliver homes that are not only stunning and functional, but also built for a better future: healthy, local, and uniquely Aotearoa.
Antoine Tane-Fitzgerald
Builder & Hempcrete Specialist, Kohu Hemp
Antoine brings a grounded, hands-on approach to every project he touches, drawing from years of deep immersion in natural building and sustainable community development. With a particular passion for hempcrete, he’s become a go-to expert for designing and delivering healthy, breathable, low-impact homes across Aotearoa.
His work on the Takaka Cohousing Project stands as a testament to his commitment. There, Antoine played a pivotal role in integrating hempcrete into the build system, navigating practical challenges while staying true to the ethos of regenerative design and communal living. His experience spans everything from material sourcing and wall systems to onsite education and collaborative design processes.
At Innate Spec, Antoine helps us embed ancient wisdom into future-facing builds—fusing technical knowledge with cultural care. Whether on the tools or shaping strategy, he brings a calm integrity that reflects both his deep respect for the land and his vision for a healthier built environment.
Doug Sturrock
Builder & Founder of GeoBind
Doug Sturrock is a highly experienced builder and the founder of GeoBind, New Zealand’s own high-performance hempcrete binder. With years of hands-on work in natural building and his own successful construction company Rockstead Construction, Doug has become a leading expert in using hempcrete for healthy, sustainable homes.
His depth of knowledge spans from practical on-site application to material innovation, helping bring hempcrete into the spotlight as a serious alternative to conventional systems. We’re proud to partner with Doug to support the future of natural building in Aotearoa.
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out your info and we will be in touch shortly.
Alternatively email guido@innatespec.com
