| 73 T T Virginia Wright A lead role in Tauranga rejuvenation Northern Quarter is a mixed-use development with two towers of 5 and 8 storeys and a shared street, right in the heart of the Tauranga City Centre. ARCHITECTURE First Principles Architects and Interiors Co-owners of First Principles Architects and Interiors (FPA) Kate and Graham Price bring complementary skills to the table with Graham’s years of practice as a registered architect and Kate’s skills as a qualified interior designer. First Principles Architects and Interiors was established in their hometown of Tauranga in 2013, when Graham and Kate decided it was time to work together and set themselves up to do more bespoke and comprehensive design solutions for clients in the region. Thirteen years later their passion for their work remains strong, and both sides of the business are thriving, having successfully merged architectural and interior design into many of their projects. They work with a team of four other senior architects and graduates. “They’re more like family to us,” says Kate. “We have been fortunate to retain our team members long-term, and we value those relationships, in the same way we value the relationships with our clients and the community. Graham, Kate, and their associate Ray, lead their team openly to ensure everyone gets exposure to all facets of the design process. They value a person’s personality over their experience when hiring a new team member, knowing they can mentor and develop their skills to a very high standard. It’s a design-driven practice and, as their name implies, they start each project with a clear philosophy of ‘Designing from First Principles’. Their collaborative approach includes clients as well as the wider team of consultants and contractors and means clients feel deeply involved from the very beginning. Their decision to grow the interior design side of the business, along with the established architectural design, gives FPA a diversity of projects and holistic design approach, which helps keep a balanced portfolio of work. Kate leads the interiors team on a variety of commercial, hospitality and multi-residential fit outs for FPA’s new building designs or refurbished buildings throughout the Bay of Plenty, she explains. “This gained momentum when we moved back into the city and did our own office fit out, keeping the frontage clearly visible from the street. We’re passionate about rejuvenating Tauranga and we want to be part of people coming back into the city.” FPA has built a strong reputation in Tauranga and beyond, as their clients’ confidence in their skills has grown, which led to their engagement to design Northern Quarter, a mixed-use development with two towers of 5 and 8 storeys and a shared street, right in the heart of the City Centre. While Graham’s team took the lead on the architecture, Kate’s team was responsible for the interior fit out of the common areas, including the atrium and entry, which is a warm and welcoming space, with a sculptural mural, lounge seating and greenery. It’s a family-led project by JWL Investments, who are intergenerational and have invested in Tauranga for many years. Stage One’s five-storey tower is now complete and occupied by the anchor tenants. “The design of NQ references the heritage of this waterfront location and has been certified as a 6-star green star building, which is a great achievement and recognition of the client’s vision for a timeless architecture. This is also our most complex and significant city building to date,” says Graham. Graham and Kate are united in their desire to bring life back into Tauranga’s City Centre and are excited to have been engaged for projects, such as Northern Quarter and other award-winning architecture in the region, which includes the multi-residential Salt Living and cultural and community-focused Mangatawa Tari. FPA attribute their success to the passion and excellence in design skills of the team, and they’re grateful to their clients for the opportunity to work on projects of which they can all feel proud. 07 574 6728 graham@firstprinciples.co.nz 3/50 Devonport Rd, Tauranga Celebrating Years Proudly supporting First Principles Architects. With over 50 years’ experience, Rutherford Signs delivers high-quality, custom signage for major construction and development projects. Our team works seamlessly with architects, designers, and project managers to ensure signage enhances each project — not just as an afterthought, but as part of its success. From concept to installation, we combine practical know-how with creative thinking to deliver results that are on brand, on point, and on time. Talk to us about your next project www.rutherfordsigns.co.nz ESC are proud to support FPA and SEG in this spectacular reference project for Tauranga assisting with design and supply of high-quality lighting products to the base build and fit outs. ELECTRICAL SUPPLYCORP www.electrical.co.nz 0800 350 000
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