98 | Designing homes with flexibility in mind BVA Studio is mostly involved in designing residential builds of various sizes ARCHITECTURE BVA Studio T T Virginia Wright “Families grow up and leave homeand we can help people design for changes in the way they use the space that their children used to fill.” After qualifying and working as an architect in his home country, Croatia, Vlad Cekus came to New Zealand in 1994, and since them has worked his way up to now owning his own practice, the Auckland-based BVA Studio. At the same time as he started working as an architect here for a large Australian company, Vlad gained the additional qualifications necessary to register as an architect in New Zealand. Over the next decade or more, he took the opportunities that were presented to gain a depth of experience on both large commercial and high-end residential builds. By the time of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008-9, when work started to dry up, Vlad was ready to go out on his own. “I slowly built up my client base and gradually, after several smaller projects than what I was used to, I realised that I really enjoyed the hands-on experience, and that was making up for not having as many of the larger projects, which involved working with a big team,” he says. Renovations and extensions slowly gave way to more of a mix of both commercial and residential, particularly with the beginning of a long-standing and fruitful relationship with one of the first of those commercial clients, Cassidy Construction. What began with designing their offices in Kingsland, and continued through the design of a new commercial Mercedes Showroom, led to Cassidy Construction inviting BVA Studio to join them in the shared office space they had built into their building. Along with the occasional collaboration with Cassidy Construction, including a second set of offices, today BVA Studio is mostly involved in designing residential builds of various sizes. “Anything basically from small alterations to a 15-townhouse development in Panmure, which were built for the same client we’re designing another eight for now.” While various high-end residential designs make their way through the consenting process, one of their extensive renovations recently came away with a Home of The Year Award (renovation category). Over a period of 20 years, BVA Studio has completed a series of alterations on their clients’ home, culminating in the complete renovation of the front of the house with the addition of a garage instead of the existing carport. “The house got a completely new streetfront façade, which changed it from an original old weatherboard Remuera bungalow into a modern-looking house featuring a mix of concrete, copper and steel – all long-lasting, low-maintenance, natural materials,” explains Vlad. That was a slow process, in stages over 20 years, whereas ordinarily for a new house it might take six months to a year. Vlad is clear that it’s during this time that things mustn’t be rushed. “ Those initial decisions can stay there for a very long time, so it’s better to think it through. “At the same time we like to design with flexibility in mind, because people’s lifestyles change as they get older. “Families grow up and leave home, for example, and we can help people design for changes in the way they use the space that their children used to fill.” Global events like the Covid pandemic also bring re-evaluation of how a space might be used, and BVA Studio works closely with clients looking for the flexibility to be able to comfortably work remotely, whether it’s a hangover from the past, or something they would like to do in the future. The advantage of Vlad having worked in architecture for a few decades is that his understanding of change and the need for flexibility comes naturally as part of the service he offers his clients, whoever they are. QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST. Whether you are planning a new build or renovation, Findlay Residential delivers comprehensive, quality service on every job. 027 354 9828 www.findlayresidential.co.nz
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