I’m renovating
Could the home you already love work better, or do you need more space?
See what changed at Mitchell St · Where to begin a renovationDESIGNER / FOUNDER / YOUR PARTNER IN THE PROCESS
Before we draw,
let’s talk about
how you live.
I’m the Founder, Director and Owner of Modal Architecture. I bring people together to design homes around the lives they want to lead.
Perhaps you love your home but the layout no longer works. Perhaps you’ve found a section and you’re wondering what would fit. Tell me what you’re weighing up.
Talk about your projectChoose a time for a free initial conversation with me through Modal Architecture. Prefer to write? Email me.
Based in Auckland.
In Wellington one week each month.
Regularly working in Queenstown.
ARCHITECTURE IS PERSONAL.A little of my thinking
Where are you starting?
I’m planning a new home
What could your section offer, and what should you understand before committing to a design?
Explore Orui Home at Riversdale Beach · Get to know your section01 / PERSPECTIVE
The brief starts with a life.
The architecture follows.
The way you spend a Sunday morning. Who gathers around the table. What you need more room for, and what you would rather do without.
These are the conversations I want to have first. They help us understand what a home needs to make possible, before we become attached to a particular shape or style.
I see my role as a partner in that exploration: listening closely, bringing a clear design perspective and helping you make decisions with confidence.
The person behind the approach02 / WORKING TOGETHER
There is no
standard client.
So I don’t believe there should be a standard way of listening. A good partnership makes room for how you think, what you value and how involved you want to be.
I.Start with what matters to you.
A room list is a useful starting point. Understanding what those rooms need to do for your life is where the design becomes personal. I want to know your priorities, your uncertainties and the things you would love us to explore.
II.Find your way of working.
You might enjoy discussing each detail, or prefer focused conversations at key decisions. Tell us what suits you early. We can agree how to keep you informed and involved in a way that works for the project.
III.Put the right people around the table.
Our clients, designers, builders and consultants bring different kinds of knowledge. I value the questions and practical insights that emerge when we work together towards a shared understanding of the design.
03 / PEOPLE & PLACE
A close connection.
Across different places.
Auckland
My home base. The place from which I lead the practice and connect with our clients and collaborators.
Our Auckland workWellington
I spend one week each month in our Wellington office, supporting the team and staying close to the conversations shaping our work.
Our Wellington workQueenstown
A region where we regularly work. Its landscapes bring a distinct setting to the conversations we have about home and place.
Our Queenstown workMitchell St · Brooklyn, Wellington
A kitchen that opens to the table.
The family wanted to stay in their neighbourhood and bring cooking, eating and outdoor living closer together. Look at the bench in the original kitchen. It turns back towards the cooker. In the renovated room, stools face the island and the dining table sits alongside it. Someone chopping vegetables can carry on a conversation with someone sitting at the table, with the deck just beyond.
04 / IN CONVERSATION
ASKING. EXPLORING. SHARING.
Good questions
open things up.
I enjoy bringing design into conversation, including through podcasts. Explaining an idea is part of testing it, and hearing another perspective can lead somewhere unexpected.
That openness matters in our client relationships too. You should feel comfortable asking why, considering an alternative and telling us what feels right for you.
Read ideas and advice from Modal05 / NOTES & ADVICE
MY THINKING, IN WRITING
The questions behind
a considered home.
Practical architectural advice, personal views and useful questions to bring to your own project.
Read my advice and opinions