Art can play a powerful role in architectural design. It can add beauty, interest, and meaning to a home, making it a more inviting and stimulating place to live. Art can also help to create a sense of identity and personality for a home, reflecting the unique tastes and interests of the homeowners. Here are a few specific examples of how art can be used to create more beautiful and meaningful residential architectural designs here in Aotearoa, New Zealand: Integrate art into the architecture itself This can be done by using sculptures, murals, or other artworks as permanently part of the bu ..read more

Designing a custom residential home is an exciting journey that allows homeowners to create a space that reflects their unique personality and lifestyle. While high-end architecture often emphasises luxury, good quality design goes beyond extravagant features and focuses on creating functional, visually pleasing, and personalised homes. In this blog post, we will explore the art of customisation in residential architecture, highlighting how tailored design can transform a house into a welcoming and individualised haven. Understanding the Homeowner's Vision At the heart of customisation lies ..read more

I often advise clients that designing for quality provides a much better outcome than designing for quantity. In times where budget or the property size may be less than desired, here are some strategies for maximising space in your home: Open Floor Plans: Opt for open floor plans that combine multiple functions in a single space. This approach eliminates unnecessary walls and creates a sense of spaciousness. Built-in Storage: Utilise built-in storage solutions to minimize clutter and make the most of available space. Consider incorporating storage under stairs, in alcoves, or within walls ..read more

While style is very subjective, house owners are often drawn to classic appeal and enduring aesthetics. These qualities can be achieved by the following principles that place a focus on quality of design and material longevity, to limit the chances of a design dating prematurely: Quality materials: Natural materials like stone, timber and brick have a timeless appeal. Look for products which are high-quality and inherently durable without relying purely on their finish. Keep it simple: Ensure the interior and exterior geometry is kept simple and clean-lined. Overly complex or sculptural for ..read more

Insulation is essential in NZ’s houses. Many houses built prior to 1978 will have zero or very little insulation. As of July 2019, insulation is compulsory in all rental homes. Insulation is critical in preventing heat loss in cold weather, and preventing heat gain in warm weather. It comes in many forms, and also works to reduce noise pollution. Insulation selection tips: • Specify above the Building Code’s minimum R-value • Choose from natural or recycled materials • Ideally re-usable at end of original use • Isn’t harmful to install (doesn’t require PPE) • Keep performing through its lifesp ..read more

An attribute of a good architect is being able to produce a coherent solution from a complex problem. To accomplish this, clear lines of communication and confidence must be established between architect and client as soon as possible. Many clients find this difficult when starting out with an architect they haven’t worked with before. This is completely understandable. It’s a big investment in time and money, and a lot is at stake, so there is naturally some anxiety when beginning. To ensure clients are put at ease as early in the process as possible, Parkes Architecture typically follows the ..read more

NZ has committed to being carbon neutral by 2050. This is in line with an international effort under the Paris Agreement to limit the global average temperature increase to 2° Celsius. What we now call Sustainable or Green design, will soon become “design” – the default standard. Hence, the sooner we embrace the many innovations and initiatives available to us to improve the quality of our buildings, the better. Green design refers to the building materials, the processes used for building, and the long term impact the building has for its users and the environment. Green design is required to ..read more

Natural, attractive, versatile, renewable! Timber comes in a lot of species, profile and finishing options, meaning it’s an incredibly popular cladding choice for many houses in New Zealand. That being said, stone, brick, plaster and metal all bring their own character and robustness to the table for consideration. Several considerations should be made when selecting a cladding material or system: • Durability • Cost • Insulation benefits (thermal and acoustic) • Aesthetics • Suitability against adjacent claddings • Maintenance • Warranty periods • Sustainability of the cladding and finishes ..read more

There’s nothing new here – just good, sensible design which is most effective when considered building new – at little to no additional cost. It’s upsetting how often these simple principles are overlooked in many NZ houses. They are opportunities not to be missed! Elements of passive solar design: • Thermal mass Works by exposing a high-density material like an exposed concrete slab or block wall to the sun, so it can absorb the sun’s energy through the day and radiate the warmth into the house at the end of the day. • Building location and orientation on the site Optimisation of light and su ..read more

What does an architect do? A question often asked! Architects are specially qualified to help bring design visions to reality through brief development, feasibility assistance, design & consultant coordination, research, option testing, presentations, obtaining council consents, documentation, contractor selection, construction observation and administration. To name a few things! What principally drives us is the desire to help a client get the BEST VALUE for their hard-earned money. This could be achieved by identifying options never considered, introducing new innovations and ways to en ..read more