108 | Cohesion and style The home uses Nu-Wall metal alternatingprofile cladding, BUILDING Box - The Architect Builder T T Kelly Deeks Quality Build Passive home passion T T Nicki Woodlock Box The Architect Builder has added fresh recognition to Auckland’s design-andbuild sector with a runner-up placing in the 2025 TIDA New Zealand Designer New Home category for a Mission Bay build that combines cohesive design, precise construction, and strong client involvement. Design lead Tim Hogarth says the result reflects the company’s commitment to cohesive design thinking, integrated construction capability, and a strong client- relationship model. The recognised project is a highly architectural home, positioned on a steep greenfield site near the local shopping centre. The build demanded careful planning, technical sequencing, and clear collaboration between designers, builders, and owners. “It was a very sloping and quite unique site,” Tim says. “A tricky site takes longer in documentation and longer in consenting, but allows for some different design outcomes. Our clients understood the site they had chosen and they wanted something unique and bespoke.” The owners had recently moved from a heritage home in England, and were looking for a contemporary aesthetic that felt intentional and crafted. They arrived with a decisive vision for a black-and-white house, a choice that formed the basis of every decision thereafter. Tim says the clarity of that palette was key. “They wanted a black-and-white house, and they were unified in their design thinking. Every decision is tied back to the black-andwhite story.” Externally, the home uses Nu-Wall metal alternating-profile cladding, a custom white-metal entrance canopy for wayfinding, cedar battens and soffits, and a cedar front door. Internally, a blacker-than-black kitchen with a Dekton-wrapped island provides a sculptural centrepiece with clean planes and no overhangs. The home spans three levels, each offering a distinct spatial character. Entry is at the middle floor into the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, where the family gathers and entertains. The lower level accommodates two bedrooms and the home office, with a darker tone, lower natural light, and acoustic softening using studio-grade wall panels. Two Quality Build Ltd is a family-owned residential building company based in Auckland. The team is passionate about bringing clients’ projects to life and takes pride in the strong client relationships they form. Guided by their core values, Quality Build is committed to delivering excellence and craftsmanship at every stage of the building process. Founded in 2014 by builder and managing director, Nathan Mill, and his wife Sarah, the couple lead a team of seven. The team deliver a wide range of building services across the Auckland region, including passive homes, energy-efficient small homes, new builds, villa restorations, standard residential renovations, and select light commercial projects. “We want to make more energy-efficient houses. We want to build better,” Nathan says. “Build it once, build it right, and build it to last.” The team at Quality Build are passionate about creating energy-efficient passive homes, as they enhance comfort, health, and sustainability. bathrooms sit on this level and reflect what Tim calls the “forest floor” – subterranean, grounded, and visually quieter. In contrast, the upper level holds the main suite, which Tim describes as a “treetops” space with soft and natural light, a bright white palette, and elevated views. Even the black rendered swimming pool supports the overall aesthetic, mirroring trees, sky, and changing light. Tim says the success of the project comes down to aligned personalities, a clear visual and spatial brief, and Box’s integrated delivery approach. The home was designed and built in-house, with steady communication between the design team and site foreman over a 14-month build timeline. “So often, building a house is a relationship exercise,” Tim says. “Being the designer and builder is very intimate. Communication is direct, and everyone is invested in the same outcome.” For Tim, the Mission Bay home stands out as a flagship of the company’s Los Angeles modernist leanings. “It’s cohesive, bespoke, and it suits the owners’ personalities,” he says. By reducing power costs, eliminating dampness, and improving air quality, passive homes deliver long-term savings and future- proof a property. Quality Build can retrofit existing homes, villas, and bungalows to enhance insulation, airflow, and overall performance. Smart upgrades, such as improving cladding, roofing and ventilation, create healthier, more energy-efficient homes. It has an exclusive partnership with Smart Living Spaces, a specialist architectural design firm focused on passive homes, to deliver Passive House builds. Quality Build owner Nathan Mill developed expertise in passive home building by earning a Passive House Tradesperson Certification through the Passive House Institute of New Zealand and Pro Clima. The team are registered with NZ Certified Builders, accredited with the Builtin 10-Year Guarantee, and are a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). They are also members of the Passive House Institute and the New Zealand Green Building Council. Several of Quality Build’s home projects have been featured in the New Zealand Certified Builders Association’s (NZCB) magazine publication Revere. Quality Build delivers excellence and craftsmanship at every stage of the building process. www.topmarkelectrical.co.nz 0800TOPMARK Providing Intelligent electrical solutions to architecturally designed & award winning homes. Door Hardware | Auto Doors | Locksmiths Phone Darcy 021 482 308 or Email: darcywills@xtra.co.nz
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