30 | Box Living T T Nicki Woodlock A fusion of design and construction Box specialises in boxy, mid-century, modern-style new builds, renovations, subdivision builds, in-ground pools, and interior design. DEVELOPMENT Box Living was founded in Auckland in 2009 and is still managed today by its founders – builder Nat Jakich, quantity surveyor Nat Holloway, and sales director Dan Heyworth. Since then, Box has grown into a team of 30 to 40, consisting of architects, interior designers, cost estimators, project managers, engineers, and tradespeople, and a dedicated pool team, who work on projects together. Box primarily operates in Auckland, where most of its projects are located, including approximately 30 homes on Waiheke Island. However, the company also undertakes residential builds and renovations throughout New Zealand. Typically, Box manages 10-15 projects concurrently, with the majority based in Auckland. Box specialises in boxy, mid-century, modern-style new builds, renovations, subdivision builds, in-ground pools, and interior design. Their design-and-build team guides people from the initial idea through to the finished design. The Box core philosophy is the ‘architect builder’, a term coined by architect Christopher Alexander to describe the fusion of design and construction. Box is unique in that it is both an in-house design company and an established construction company. They produce designs that focus on style, while being practical to build. Their architects and designers are involved in the building process, and their builders are involved in the design. Since it all happens under the same roof, there are no areas for issues to arise. They take responsibility for fixing any problems and ensure that the whole design-andbuild experience is enjoyable, educational, and memorable for clients. Most of the clients they work with become lifelong friends. “We believe that architects and builders should be working together. There’s a real synthesis from the design and build side working together,” Dan says. “Making sure that you combine creativity with building knowledge. It’s more cost-effective, and it runs smoothly, and we can control the quality of the build. “We don’t really have any true competitors. No one has that tight integration of builders and designers under one roof. “Over the years we have assembled a team that is culturally aligned. Our difference is that we take care end to end. Our team works seamlessly together,” he says. Box has received numerous accolades across New Zealand’s architectural and construction sectors. Their awards include Master Builder Awards, Trends International , NZ Wood Design , NZ Architecture, Design Institute of NZ , NZ House & Garden. The most recent were a Gold Master Builder Awards NZ House Of The Year Award 2024 for a new home in Kohimarama and a Gold Master Builder Awards Renovation in 2024 for their Shetland Road renovation. The Shetland Rd project is a 1950s’ mid-century house on a typical Kiwi site with both city and bush views, featuring a stone fireplace and the use of beautiful materials throughout. The client brief was to open up the house and make it more open-plan, to create a new addition that complements the house, to bring in more light, and to improve the performance of the house with insulation. “To combine a blast from the past with a bit of the future,” says Dan. “It’s a real mix of modern and mid-century. We opened the living, kitchen and dining areas up. The new additions were a master suite with an ensuite, a home office, and meditation area. “We also added a deck that looks back into the bush. The house has both bush and city views. It feels like a bush retreat in one direction and feels like a city sanctuary too.” Beyond the core services, Box also operates “Collective by Box™”, a separate venture that supports and sells products crafted by local New Zealand artisans, including furniture, lighting, homewares, art, and ceramics, and pool company – Frontier Pools. PlaceMakersR Everything for every job under one roof. PlaceMakers Waiheke 102 Ostend Road, Ostend, Waiheke Island Phone: (09) 372 0060 | www.placemakers.co.nz Proud to support Box Living. Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Each edition priority delivered to your door. i i i i li . www.waterfordpress.co.nz/subscriptions . t f . . / i ti 03 983 5525 Stay informed; we work with business owners and decision-makers across all economic sectors, profiling their success. t i f r ; r it i r i i - r r ll i t r , r fili t ir . businessnorth
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