Graeme North, Architect

We carry out design work and consultancy incorporating the use of local natural materials and appropriate technology. This can range from helping you decide between various natural materials or building techniques that are appropriate for your project, through to the design of your building.

The basis of natural building is to lessen the environmental impact of buildings by using readily available, renewable, reused or recycled materials to build beautiful buildings while lessening the use of materials with major negative environmental or health impacts. We avoid as much as possible toxic wood-preservatives, Portland cement-based mixes, some paints and coatings and some plastics, particularly those containing harmful chemicals.

Appropriate technology means technology that is suited to time, place, culture and environment, using local materials to do useful work in ways that do the least possible harm, and this philosophy underpins our work. See YIMFY

Design Approach:
Your building site will be carefully assessed for its orientation, views, access, solar orientation, microclimates, topography and other physical characteristics such as stability and wind shelter or exposure to make best use what the site offers and what your needs are, incorporated into a permaculture “livingscape”.

We can make an appointment to discuss your project and the various ways in which we can assist in helping you to realise your dream of building a beautiful building that suits you and uses natural materials.

Specialist or peer review:
Services not only include design but also specialist advice or peer review for other designers and/or Building Consent Authorities, or for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). We can also investigate building failures involving natural materials.

Mentoring:
We offer mentoring of guided owner-building as we believe that this is the key to affordable housing along with encouraging environmentally responsible smaller buildings.

*Fee Structure: *

Architectural fees can be worked out in various ways depending on the project and we can discuss various options with you.

Life can be filled with many very interesting conversations with many people, so in order to pay the bills there may be a nominal fee for answering queries by email or phone, or an initial office consultation.

Fees for your project will be exclusive of GST plus any out of pocket expenses or disbursements.