Thoughts & opinions
Why I share my thinking about home design
The conversations behind the drawings.
A personal introduction to my architectural advice, design opinions and the questions I think are worth asking before you build.
There is a lot of information to take in when you begin a building project. I want this journal to make some of the design conversations easier to enter. It is a place for my perspective on homes, working with people and making thoughtful decisions.
Key points
- Begin with the way you want to live.
- Ask questions until the choices make sense.
- Use general advice to prepare a more useful project conversation.
What you will find here
I will write about the parts of a project that deserve a little more thought: choosing the right team, putting a useful brief together, understanding a proposal and deciding what a home needs to do for you.
My interest is in making those conversations practical. An article should leave you with something you can discuss, compare or write down.
- Short explanations of design decisions.
- Questions to bring to a consultation.
- Personal views on working together.
- Checklists that help you organise your thoughts.
A personal perspective, connected to a practice
I am the Founder, Director and Owner of Modal Architecture. I am based in Auckland, spend one week each month supporting our Wellington team and regularly work in Queenstown.
This journal explains how I think about the work. For the practice’s services, project information and consultation bookings, follow the links to Modal Architecture. The two websites have different roles, with a shared interest in helping you take a useful next step.
See the practice’s project information alongside the personal perspective shared here.
Explore Modal Architecture’s projectsHear from people who have worked with the practice.
Read client and consultant feedbackBring it back to your own situation
A helpful idea still needs to be tested against your home, site and priorities. Where a topic involves current building rules, I will distinguish the source information from my own view and link to the official guidance.
You do not need to know every technical term to have a worthwhile conversation. Start with the question you actually have. That is where I would like us to begin.
- Write down the issue you want to understand.
- Collect the information you already have.
- Ask which next step would help you make a decision.
Bring the question to your own project.
If this has helped you identify something you would like to explore, let’s talk about it.
Start a consultation