Pre Design Phase
Design Phase
Construction Phase
Additional Services
Great communication is the foundation of every successful project. As your architects, we’re here to guide you from our first conversation about your needs and site, through each decision along the way, right up to move-in day—and beyond.
We work closely with you at every stage, while also collaborating with builders and specialist consultants to deliver a home that is both sustainable and beautifully designed.
To make things simple, we’ve broken our service into clear phases. This step-by-step approach streamlines the journey, ensures steady progress from concept to completion, and makes the experience exciting and rewarding.
Pre Design Phase
1. Project Establishment
Setting your project up for success
This pre-design stage is all about defining your goals, priorities, and the direction for your new home. We gather key information about your site and needs, then prepare a comprehensive architectural brief—a crucial document that captures your ambitions, style, and requirements.
This is also the right time to discuss your sustainability goals, such as whether you’d like to target a Homestar rating.
Design Phase
2. Concept Design
Exploring possibilities for your home
With your brief in place, we begin the design process by exploring how your home can best respond to its site and your needs.
We carry out a detailed site analysis, looking at topography, zoning and building rules, sun paths, climate, and key views. From here, we develop initial design ideas that balance your brief, budget, and the opportunities of the site.
By the end of this phase, we test different layouts and building forms, arriving at the overall configuration and character of your home.
3. Preliminary Design
Refining the concept and setting direction
In this phase, we refine your preferred concept and shape the character and style of your home. Scaled floor plans and elevations are developed, and the relationships between spaces are clearly defined.
We can also bring in a Thermal Modeller to test how your home is expected to perform. This early check helps us fine-tune the design to make it more comfortable and energy-efficient within your budget.
By the end of this stage, the design intent and key parameters are established, allowing for preliminary costing. We recommend engaging a Quantity Surveyor to provide a detailed cost estimate, broken down by building elements.
If required, the drawings produced during this phase can also support your Resource Consent application.
4. Developed Design
Coordinating all the major systems
We progress the approved Preliminary Design into a coordinated set of documents that define all the major systems of your home. This includes materials and finishes, structural elements (such as roof and foundation systems), building services (ventilation and heating), and cladding and roofing selections.
For more complex projects, we collaborate with consultants such as structural or services engineers.
By the end of this phase, the design is ‘frozen’, providing a clear and detailed framework to move confidently into the next stage.
5. Detailed Design & Documentation
Turning the design into buildable detail
This is the most in-depth stage of the process, where we refine the Developed Design into a full set of detailed drawings, schedules, and specifications.
These documents clearly describe how every element of your home will be built, ensuring suppliers, builders, and tradespeople can work with accuracy and confidence. They also form the basis for tendering and contractor negotiations, and (if required) a Homestar Design Rating assessment.
Finally, this complete documentation package is submitted to council as part of the Building Consent application.
Construction Phase
6. Procurement
Finding the right builder for your project
We guide you through selecting a builder by discussing suitable tendering or negotiation options and connecting you with contractors who have the right skills and availability.
We prepare tender documents, call for and receive submissions, and review pricing with you. Once tenders are assessed, we help you choose the builder who best fits your project.
This phase concludes with the preparation and signing of the construction contract between you and your chosen builder.
7. Site Observation
Bringing your home to life on site
With your builder on board, your project moves into construction. The detailed documentation prepared in earlier phases now supports a smooth build with minimal delays or cost overruns.
We carry out regular site visits to monitor progress, check workmanship, and confirm the build aligns with the documents, performance criteria, and agreed quality standards.
Working closely with your builder, we clarify technical details, answer queries, and resolve any unexpected issues that arise. If required, we can also coordinate a Homestar Built Rating assessment during this stage.
8. Contract Administration
Managing the contract, reducing your stress
To take the stress out of your build, we can act as Contract Administrator during construction, alongside our Site Observation services.
In this role, we manage the construction contract between you and your builder, including assessing monthly progress payment claims, reviewing variation and extension requests, and issuing key certifications such as Practical Completion and Defects Liability.
At the end of this phase, your home is formally completed and handed over—ready for you to enjoy living in your warm, healthy new space.
Additional Services
Some projects require additional services beyond the core design and documentation phases. We offer support in these areas to keep your project running smoothly and to add extra value to your home.
Homestar Assessment
Homestar is an independent rating tool run by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) that measures the health, warmth, and energy efficiency of homes. As a member practice of the NZGBC, and with our Principal Beth Chaney-Walker accredited as both a Homestar Designer and Assessor, we can design and assess your home to achieve a certified Homestar rating. A rating of Homestar 6 or higher may also unlock discounted mortgage rates and can add value to resale.
Read more in our blog post: ‘Certifying Energy Efficient Homes’.
Resource Consent
If your project does not comply with the District Plan, a Resource Consent may be required. We can prepare the application on your behalf and manage communications with council, streamlining the process and reducing delays.
Rendering & Presentation Material
We provide a range of visualisation services to enhance your project, from resource consent renderings to high-quality marketing material. This can include interior and exterior renderings, 3D fly-throughs, sequencing animations, and detailed construction visuals.
Specialist Consultants
Depending on your site and project complexity, you may also need to engage specialist consultants. We guide you through this process and work closely with them to ensure their input is seamlessly integrated into your design. Common consultants include:
Topographical Surveyor – Provides detailed surveys of your site including contours, levels, and existing structures.
Thermal Modeller – Tests the predicted thermal performance of your home during the design stages. This helps us refine the design to achieve the best possible comfort and energy efficiency within your budget.
Quantity Surveyor (QS) – Offers accurate cost estimates and advice, usually engaged during Preliminary Design but available throughout.
Structural Engineer – Develops efficient structural strategies and detailed documentation, and often provides site observation.
- Landscape Architect – Collaborates with us to integrate your home into its surroundings, balancing hard landscaping for living spaces with soft landscaping for planting and gardens.