72 | Covering all the bases Andrew primarily designs projects throughout Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region, collaborating closely with a select group of local builders. ARCHITECTURE Mod Architecture T T Nicki Woodlock Focused on simple, honest architecture with thoughtful detailing and considered material choices, Tauranga’s Mod Architecture creates designs where elegance meets practicality. The boutique firm specialises in high-quality, medium to high-end residential projects, from new builds and bespoke renovations to light commercial spaces, tailored to each client’s needs and lifestyle. Managing Director and Owner Andrew Ward, a registered architect with more than 20 years of experience in New Zealand and overseas, founded Mod Architecture in 2008. Since then, the firm has worked across a diverse range of projects, including residential, multi-storey, mixed-use, hospitality, education, office fit-outs, and government developments. “I do everything from consultation and design to execution. I’m across the project from start to finish,” says Andrew. Mod Architecture’s design philosophy is built on three core principles: designing in harmony with both the client and the landscape; creating timeless architecture through simplicity and balance; and embracing innovation – architecturally, structurally, and functionally. Andrew primarily designs projects throughout Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region, collaborating closely with a select group of local builders. He is a Registered Architect with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board, an Architect and Practice Member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA), and a Professional Member of Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ). Mod Architecture was commended in the Waikato & Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards category of the ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards in both 2022 and 2025. One of Mod Architecture’s key collaborators is AHS Group, a construction and development company with whom Andrew has worked on multiple projects. These include the Sun Estate development in Cambridge, Bowentown Bach, and Te Puna Kindergarten, which was commended by the NZ Institute of Architects in the Waikato & Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards in 2022. Andrew has designed five homes for AHS Group within the Sun Estate residential development in Cambridge. Located just two minutes from Cambridge town centre, behind Norfolk Drive, Sun Estate is a 32-home development offering a relaxed lifestyle with convenient motorway access and proximity to key destinations – each architecturally designed home, with spacious bespoke floor plans of around 350sqm, sitting on landscaped sections of approximately 900sqm. “I can offer clients direct contact with me, the architect, to ensure the design is fully delivered on site. In larger architectural firms, the architect’s intentions can be lost, and it’s the little details that can really elevate a project.” This is a feature that sets Mod Architecture apart, Andrew says. Andrew has noticed the market and his workload steadily improving over the past six months, with activity returning to normal levels. Current projects include renovations valued between $500k and $2.5 million, a $1.5 million new build with a pool house, and a commercial development – a new local sports club valued at over $5 million. All these are located in the Tauranga area. Mod Architecture has an ongoing pursuit of bigger and better projects, particularly highend residential work, and is eager to explore new approaches. “As an architect, you’re always trying to improve and learn new techniques,” Andrew states. “I can offer clients direct contact with me, the architect, to ensure the design is fully delivered on site. In larger architectural firms, the architect’s intentions can be lost, and it’s the little details that can really elevate a project.”
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