72 | ARCHITECTURE Pynenburg & Collins Architects T T Kim Newth Building brilliant, from city to sea When Ron Pynenburg and Ken Collins first decided to set up their own architectural practice, the two had not yet graduated from Victoria University’s School of Architecture. They turned a disused basement space under their flat into an office and set to work. Their can-do attitude and a willingness to take opportunities – as well as some good luck – ensured their award winning practice, Pynenburg and Collins Architects, not only survived but thrived and grew to become an enduring success. For four decades now, the practice team has been creating brilliant spaces from as far north as the Bay of Islands and as far south as Antarctica. Designing brilliant buildings that improve lives has been their core focus from the start, adding value wherever Kiwis live, work and play. Accessible, beautiful design is a prominent theme in their extensive project portfolio that reflects a respectful and considered approach to work in the aged care sector. Over the past five years, their design work has shaped the evolution of Arrowtown Lifestyle Village, a stunning retirement community village in the Queenstown Lakes District. Architecturally designed luxury villas and apartments and a superb resident’s lodge are making life easy and enjoyable for the village residents. Pynenburg & Collins’ team are delighted to see the village steadily growing stage by stage as more retirees embrace the vibrant lifestyle on offer. Pynenburg & Collins has completed many other impactful projects in the retirement sector, including a comfortable new extension to the Bishop Snedden Retirement Village at Waikanae, and a new apartment building for the Masonic Villages Trust in Woburn to complement an existing rest home and hospital. Ron and Ken have carefully nurtured talent in their team, enabling the company to continue moving forward with the same ethos and passion. Joanne Kelly, who first joined Pynenburg & Collins in 1998, became the firm’s first female Principal in 2016. “Spaces should be accessible, comfortable and beautiful at once – we shouldn’t have to choose,” observes Joanne, describing her approach to a recent CCS Disability Action fitout where accessibility was at the heart of the building and its design. She suggests the aged care sector deserves better than traditional, institutional-style “Spaces should be accessible, comfortable and beautiful at once – we shouldn’t have to choose.” buildings. “I want to make it personal, to bring back independence.” Jody Seabright, who also became a Principal in 2016, has made a big impact too through his more than 30 years of service with the practice on projects spanning from complex commercial and residential builds to laboratories. Melissa Edwards and Mark Holmes were appointed Principals in 2021, further adding to the team’s extensive track record in design and reputation for excellence in meeting clients’ needs. Innovation in design is a hallmark for Pynenburg and Collins, which is responding to increasing densification in urban living with smart new design solutions. One of their elegantly compact designs called ‘Urban Lodge’, created for Christchurch development and construction company Welhaus, was acknowledged by the Design Institute of New Zealand as Best Design for Diversity in Compact Design in Residential Interiors and was a finalist in their 2016 Residential Interiors Awards. A recent highlight for the team was being honoured with the 2023 Resene Total Colour Award for Commercial Interior Public & Dining for their Kākāriki Coffee project in Wellington. Working to a tight timeframe, Pynenburg and Collins transformed a dated grey and red restaurant into a fresh, vibrant, welcoming and successful café space for their client. Pynenburg and Collins provide a full range of architectural services from masterplanning and initial briefing to detailed design, tendering, contract management and post-occupancy review. The team embraces collaboration with all stakeholders, consultants and contractors, fostering positive working relationships and excellent communication. Design, construction and cost constraints are carefully balanced. Their sister company, award winning Lab-works Architecture, is a leader in the design and construction of laboratories and scientific facilities. The two work together to provide a complete scientific and building service. At S&T, we value our clients and the places they live and work in. We’re motivated to design excellent, sustainable solutions that delight our customers and celebrate a thriving Aotearoa. Our full service model across building services engineering, building performance, and lighting means we can unlock large, complex projects with an end-to-end experience that exceeds expectations and delivers true value. Our Engineering team are always delighted to work with Pynenburg & Collins on successful projects. www.stephenson-turner.com Pynenburg & Collins Principal Melissa Edwards . Below, a recent highlight for the team was being honoured with the 2023 Resene Total Colour Award for Commercial Interior Public & Dining for their Kākāriki Coffee project in Wellington
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