Process
Great architecture is personal. It fits the lives of the people who use it. Our collaborative design process turns your insights about the activities you need to accommodate and your aesthetic preferences into potential solutions that are fully tested using a range of digital and analogue tools. By considering design and the pragmatics of building equally, we then assemble detail-focused teams to deliver exceptional spaces.
1. Listen first, design second
From beginning to end, listening is the key to a successful project – but it’s particularly important when we’re establishing a new project. To help us gain a complete understanding of what matters to you, we use an expanded briefing process called the ‘Project Deep Dive’. As ideas evolve, we’ll explore the full and unique potential of the brief, site and budget, testing ideas and thinking to ensure the best solution surfaces. As the design develops, we maintain regular contact to ensure the design is perfectly suited to your needs.
2. Collaborating at every step of the way
Following the Project Deep Dive, we use traditional hand drawing and modern digital simulation tools such as VR to translate our understanding of your brief into a Concept Design. We do this because we want to know how a space ‘feels’ – not just what shape it is. These drawings can then be used to begin discussions with builders and quantity surveyors to establish an estimated build price.
Once a preferred solution is selected, we’ll work with you to align brief and budget. The Concept Design is delivered for a fixed price so you can budget accurately from the project’s outset.
3. VR walk-throughs
At Pac Studio, we use VR as a design tool on every project because the ability to refine a design in 3D, from first concept to final construction documentation, is invaluable. For
our clients, we offer a number of VR
walk-throughs on each project – free of charge.
As well as providing clarity and understanding of the architectural concept, it’s fun to step right inside your project, to see the spatial
relationships and qualities develop, and test different colours, details, views, lighting and materials options. Prior to construction, we also guide each building team through the project in VR, so everyone shares the same vision of what we are creating together.
4. Documentation and drawings
We use Building Information Modelling (BIM) software and other innovative technologies to create the drawings and specification documents required for resource consent, building consent and builder pricing. We have close and continued collaborations with a number of building companies and consultants, and as the consultant team leader we will coordinate the information provided by each project team member.
Our knowledge of architectural technology and sustainability is underpinned by our teaching and research at the University of Auckland, School of Architecture and Planning, where both our Directors hold senior lecturing positions.
5. Guiding you through the build
As an experienced full-service architectural consultancy, we can guide you through each stage of the construction process – from choosing the right builder to establishing the correct contract; administering the contract for the project and carrying out project observation visits to ensure the highest quality finish and technical resolution of your project.
6. Sustainable practice
As a studio committed to carbon positive practice, we believe design excellence means the creation of warm, dry, healthy and energy efficient homes. We also believe sustainable buildings should be beautiful buildings.
As a practice, we consider potential carbon impact with every design decision and measure the carbon footprint of each project using a
100-year-term life cycle analysis. At every step of the way, we communicate environmental insights to the project team, advocating and collaborating on ways to reduce carbon impact. We also partner with material supply companies who provide accurate carbon accounting data and have a genuine commitment to sustainable practices, and consider materials for their durability, beauty and low environmental impact. As a studio, we have completed projects to certified Passive House standard, and we have deep knowledge
and experience in the design of circular water resource systems and renewables-based energy efficient home solutions.
7. Waikereru carbon credit
Pac Studio is a carbon positive practice. For our clients, that means access to sustainable design excellence, and future-ready material, water and renewable energy solutions.
Working with Waikereru Ecosanctuary, we’ve established a carbon credit that allows clients to offset the carbon footprint of their project’s construction and operation. The credit is based on regenerating native forest (not plantation pine) on land protected by a QE2 covenant. Waikereru’s native bush will never be felled. It’s actively pest controlled, with ongoing riparian restoration taking place alongside ecological research, education and biodiversity initiatives.
