The Starter Home Design Competition – Finalists
These 10 finalists were shortlisted from 140 entries
Tony Koia
Tony Koia established Tony Koia Architects in Auckland in 1995. He established the Queenstown office in 2004 to work on a growing number and range of projects. The majority of this work has been completed in residential projects, including clustered, terrace and apartment accommodation. Tony Koia Architects have enjoyed creating increasingly thermal-efficient and well-designed homes. The Starter Home Design Competition has allowed them to examine how this may be achieved cost-effectively.
Thom Craig
Thom Craig is a Fellow and Councillor of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) and past chair of NZIA Canterbury Branch. His career spans three decades in South Africa and New Zealand.
Thom has served as a director of the prominent architectural firm Warren and Mahoney, and now heads his own firm, Thom Craig Architects Ltd. He has won numerous architectural awards for a variety of residential and commercial projects in New Zealand. Thom also has a distinguished record of publishing articles on architectural topics.
Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith has 18 years’ experience in the industry working for some of New Zealand’s foremost architectural practices before establishing S3 Architects early in 2007. He has specialised mainly in the housing and education sectors, seeing projects through from sketch design to practical completion.
His ability and commitment has consistently resulted in architecture of an award-winning calibre. This standard of design excellence is underpinned by a sound technical knowledge gained as a qualified architectural technician prior to studying to become an architect.
Stephen has recently been a part-time senior tutor at the Auckland University School of Architecture and Planning as well as a juror for the NZIA regional awards programme.
Stephen also wishes to acknowledge Martin King, who contributed on his competition entry. Martin has 13 years’ experience in the industry gained in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand working for award winning practices. He joined S3 Architects in 2008 and has recently been appointed as an Associate.
Julian Rennie
Julian Rennie, originally from Marton, studied architecture at Auckland University, graduating in 1983 with the Vernon Brown memorial Prize, Monier Prize, NZIA Prize and Chisholm Memorial Prize.
He worked for a couple of years in Auckland and Palmerston North before heading to London to travel and work over a five-year period with various architects, mostly on commercial projects. Julian returned to New Zealand and established Rennie Dowsett Architects in 1990 in partnership with Rose Dowsett.
At present Julian is working from a studio in Grey Lynn on private commissions and developments, along with continuing contract work to various Auckland architectural firms and entering architectural competitions. Julian also tutors part-time at Unitec in architecture and landscape.
Geoff Walker
Geoff Walker founded Image Architecture in 2007 in Marlborough. He strives to create his clients ideas into balanced, functional, and aesthetically pleasing buildings, with a focus to create a dynamic architectural design practice.
He uses his extensive knowledge of 3D computer modeling to present realistic images to ensure the finished design. Examples of his work to date include residential housing, school work, commercial offices, golf club re-developments, and lifestyle village developments.
Geoff is passionate about creating houses that have an environmental focus, and relished the opportunity to be involved in the Starter Home Design Competition.
Geoff Fletcher
Geoff Fletcher Architects Ltd are a small design focused group of architects offering services to private clients and developers, generally in housing and light commercial. They are now working with larger development companies on the production of more efficient but quality housing.
Geoff Fletcher Architects are evolving housing types, taking small land areas to significantly reduce required infrastructure. Their design work emphasises good facilities and privacy for occupants in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
James Raimon
James Raimon began his career in the construction industry where he gained a great deal of practical knowledge, skills and experience along with a diploma in construction management. This created a sound foundation for a career in architecture. After completing a diploma in architectural technology concurrently with a bachelor of architecture at Unitec, James graduated with Honours and was awarded the top student year 5 in 2005. He is currently working towards registration and has gained a huge amount of experience on various projects at Archimedia.
Archimedia is an award-winning professional practice delivering international standard services in architecture, interior architecture and urban design. The practice has offices in Princes Wharf Auckland and in Hamilton, and has a wide range of experienced personnel with a strong dedication to design excellence sustained over its 20-year history.
James specializes in communication of architecture through visualisation and constructability through BIM modelling. He is fascinated by making spaces and forms that people can engage with and use.
John Wright
John Wright is principal of John Wright: Architect Ltd, a four-person practice based in Wellington. John studied at Victoria University of Wellington and worked in Nelson and Christchurch before starting his own practice in 1996. He enjoys doing a wide variety of residential and commercial work, but has a special interest in social housing.
Frans Kamermans
Frans Kamermans is the principal of the Kamermans & Co Architects Ltd, based in Auckland. He trained and obtained his masters degree at the Technical University in Delft, The Netherlands, in 1977, and is a New Zealand registered architect, as well as a member of the NZIA.
Frans immigrated to New Zealand in 1979, and has worked as a full-time architect for more than 30 years, including the last 25 years in his own private practice.
His work has been predominantly up-market residential, as well as commercial and healthcare projects. Low energy use and high natural comfort have always been priorities for his practice. His work is regularly published in leading architectural magazines. Frans worked with services and thermal engineer Craig Schipper, who contributed to sustainability and thermal engineering advice on his competition entry.
Trevor Wilson
Studio Trevor Wilson was established in October 2005. They are relentless in their pursuit of architecture that is conceptual and considered with every commission undertaken afforded the same enthusiasm and investigation – whether it is a new home, multi-unit apartment complex, a minor house addition or industrial complex.
Having previously worked with some of New Zealand’s leading architects including Andrew Patterson and Ian Athfield, Trevor Wilson now combines professional practice with teaching in Christchurch Polytechnic School of Architectural Studies.
'The challenge of the Starter Home Design Competition brief goes to the very core of my belief that it is the thought process that makes good architecture. A simple design which has been well thought out is the ideal architectural solution for fervent people who may not have the means to consider a bespoke home, but deserve more than an impersonal building company box' says Trevor.