| 81 A Knight Design & Build Sue Russell Enjoying the challenges of architectural builds A Knight Design & Build recently completed an ambitious formed-concrete home, made from textured tilt-slab panels. BUILDING Waihi-beach based residential builder Adam Knight says that the demographics have certainly changed since COVID, in the small east-coast beach community, 10 minutes drive from historic Waihi. “There are definitely a lot more people here, those who have moved away from larger urban centres. It’s been great for my business and business generally,” says Adam. The company has recently completed an ambitious formed-concrete home, made from textured tilt panels. Adam says there was an incredible level of before-construction planning that went into the build, but once work began the build went very well. “I had done a bit of tilt-slab work before but it was the first time using them with such I high degree of architectural detail, tying the concrete in to the interior finishing with clean lines was a challenge but completed it looks amazing.” Nine staff work on projects and this enables two reasonably significant builds to be undertaken at the same time. A Knight Design & Build has evolved a reputation for building inspiring architecturally designed homes and as such, there isn’t the need for Adam and the team to go too far from home base to have sufficient work to keep them busy. In fact these days it’s true to say that people come knocking on Adam’s door seeking him to be their builder, project manager and often be involved in the design phase as well. “I do contract a small team of architects, but often the discussion around the table in those early days of the design process will involve my input, as the practical builder.” He’s also especially proud of his team, many of whom have been with him a number of years and for helping over 19 apprentices become qualified. As for current projects, as the year ticks through, Adam says a really neat renovation on Leo Street of one of the settlement’s original homes is keeping the team busy and engaged. “It’s always nice doing quality renovations. They are more complex than new builds because of the degree of uncertainty attached to what issues will be uncovered, but at the end of the day when you look at what you have transformed, it’s a great feeling.” In the majority of cases clients come first to Adam, who then introduces them to one of his preferred architects and he always gets involved early on, what he describes as a joint architect + builder cohesive process. Asked about how he’s evolving the business Adam says he is trying to not be as actively on the tools as he usually is. He is doing some internal company restructuring, bringing a couple of the more senior on the tools into management roles. And ahead as we turn the corner to 2023 Adam says next year is looking very positive. “Though I’m always interested in talking to people about new projects!” He’s also more and more interested in building with a green footprint, recycling as much as possible. “I think there’s room for builders to do a lot to help reduce the carbon footprint of the building process. I have a team member who has completed a Passive House building course and we will be using some of these principles more and more in our builds.” “I do contract a small team of architects, but often the discussion around the table in those early days of the design process will involve my input, as the practical builder.” Email: info@alitech.co.nz | Freephone: 0508 254 8324 Showrooms in Waihi and Hamilton | www.alitech.co.nz • ALUMINIUM WINDOWS & DOORS • RESIDENTIAL / LIGHT COMMERCIAL • APL ARCHITECTURAL SERIES • THERMAL HEARTJOINERY SYSTEMS CONCRETE CONTRACTORS REX: 027 285 5489 Residential • Industrial • Rural • Ribraft or Standard Foundations A Quality Job at a Competitive Rate www.brownmoreconcrete.nz “Safety & Security combined with lasting good looks” ........................................................................................ 0508 PROVISTA (776 847) m: 027 452 5017 e: nick@provista.co.nz www.provista.co.nz • Framed Balustrades • Frameless Glass • Frameless Showers • Semi Frameless Glass • Pool Fencing • Euro Slat Screening • Glass Splashbacks • NZ Designed & Made • Safety Glass • Free Measure & Quote
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