34 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT C2 Design T T Ange Davidson Listening to clients is the first step Rachel founded C2 Design in 2015 and is now backed by a team of six. “Our clients had a clear brief for this project which was to be secondary accommodation to the main house. Our clients wanted a cubular container theme, incorporating mixed materials to define the visual aesthetics.” When people work with Rachel Cleverly, architectural designer and creative director of C2 Design in Tauranga, they might start with a simple design idea, a photo ripped from a magazine or a love for a certain shade of blue. Like a detective, Rachel takes those snippets of information, and builds on these by learning more about her clients and creating something that’s bespoke to them. “I start by listening to how my clients live in different spaces and where they spend most of the time. “Sometimes they will know the style and the colour they are after, and some people have no idea. I ask clients to tell me about their families and how they operate. I’ll go to site, look at the views, site orientation and if anything is challenging about a site. “I want to know if they’re into outdoor living, and will they need wind protection or privacy,” says Rachel. “I then tie it all together by working through all the information gathered.” “Building a house or commercial building is a huge investment and we want to get it right for our clients with as few changes as possible. “When I present the first concept, I’ve quite often got it spot on or we’re very close the first time as I really listen to what clients’ want and need, and what is unique to them and their budget.” Using ArchiCAD software, Rachel can present clients with “options” a new feature to the software able to give quick looks at different room layouts or colour combinations at the click of a button. Renders and 3D walk throughs allow the client to ‘walk about’ their new home and see the house in its entirety. It is this approach that earned Rachel a highly commended award at the ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards 2023 for The Whare Iti, New Home up to 150m2 category in the Bay of Plenty. Overlooking Pukehina Estuary’s waterfront, Whare Iti’s sloping site lent itself to two levels with a hidden garage basement built into the site and a two-bedroom residence above. “Our clients had a clear brief for this project which was to be secondary accommodation to the main house. Our clients wanted a cubular container theme, incorporating mixed materials to define the visual aesthetics. The look is contemporary, while following the tradition of a simple beach bach in this coastal setting,” Rachel says. Rachel founded C2 Design in 2015 and is now backed by a team of six, offering a complete design and interior package for both residential and commercial sectors. The company collaborates on many projects with Letts Construction such as high-end residential and industrial buildings. At present C2 Design are working with Letts on a series of hangars at the Tauranga Airport and have some exciting concepts in the works. “We work all over North Island with a huge amount of work in Hawkes Bay and Taupo. “Taupo is absolutely booming with mostly holiday homes which keeps it interesting from a design point of view as people live differently in a holiday home. They are generally more open plan with a focus on outdoor living,” says Rachel. “Our Tauranga clients have slowed down a little, but Tauranga will continue to grow thanks to large companies like Zespri and Gibb and the Port. People will always need houses.” Proudly Supporting C2 Design CHS Engineers Ltd cover a wide range and scale of services in the residential, industrial and commercial sectors – from small home alterations to large scale developments. We will work closely with you from the conceptual design stage right through to construction, offering expert advice and support. We pride ourselves on offering professional services of the highest standard – ensuring not only premium quality designs, but strong, long lasting relationships with our clients. Ph (07) 578 4071 | Email info@chsengineers.co.nz
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