98 | ARCHITECTURE Robert Montgomery Architects T T Sue Russell Taupo the base for talented designer Grandview Estate, nestled above the hills of Acacia Bay, to the east of Taupo town, has been 20-plus years in development. Registered architect, Robert Montgomery has enjoyed a rich and diverse professional career since learning his craft through Auckland Technical Institute and the University of Auckland, completing a New Zealand Certificate of Architectural Draughting with Honours and his Bachelor of Architecture respectively. “I had a couple of uncles who were builders, and initially thought I’d become one, but I was drawn to the world of design for all its challenges and opportunities. Through that journey I’ve worked in private practices in Auckland before managing the Wellington office for Peddle Thorp, from 1986 to 2016,” Robert says. Those 30 years saw his professional career blossom through major tourism and hospitality projects, including Wellington’s $90 million Intercontinental Hotel and Mobil on the Park, a $40M office retail and car-parking development. Acquiring a deep understanding of the Resource Management Act, consenting processes, and what it takes to engage effectively in large-scale property developments, preparing and managing resource consent applications in challenging environments, is a particular strength, and one he has been able to pivot his professional life around. These days, Robert is based in Taupo, a town and district with which he has enjoyed a long professional association. A visit to Kinloch on Lake Taupo’s northern edge led him to become involved as project director and manager in a major, 300-residential-lot project, called Holyoak’s. Working with business partner Tony Seager, through their development company Scenic Ventures Ltd, Grandview Estate, nestled above the hills of Acacia Bay, to the east of Taupo town, has been 20-plus years in development. Currently, stage 3C lots are being released to the market. “This site is amazing, with views out over the lake to the national park mountains, the lake and Mt Tauhara,” Robert says. “The first stage of development went well, and then we had a flat period after the GFC. In 2018, we were approached by a third party asking if we would consider doing a tourist lodge on the property, and this is how it may evolve beyond residential.” Robert says it has always been important to him to achieve environmentally balanced outcomes in all the development projects he has been involved with. He takes pride in the fact that he has never had a resource consent application declined by a local authority in New Zealand. Designing for the residential new-build and alteration market is another enduring passion. In recent years, Robert has developed a particular interest in designing high-performance homes using a modular S.I.P.S technology (structurally insulated panel system). He built Taupo’s first S.I.P.S. residence in stage 2 of the Grandview Estate, and says there are plenty of good reasons why the modular construction building system makes sense. “Using this system is very efficient and cost-effective. The average home can be stood up in 20 days. “The pre-insulated panels have an R Value of 4.3 and there’s minimal waste. Constructing with these panels delivers a high level of tightrwtaupo.co.nz Pivot Realty Limited Licensed (REAA 2008) Rosie, Gina and Nikki look forward to walking alongside you to navigate your selling journey. With Rosie's 25 + years in Taupo's real Estate market as a business owner and determined negotiator, Gina's empathetic approach with sellers and buyers, and Nikki's youthful energy and keen eye for detail, we will ensure you enjoy a seamless experience. Now working together as a formidable sales team, Rosie, Gina and Nikki offer the combined skills to ensure you're in the hands of experienced professionals. Call us for a chat anytime, we look forward to meeting with you soon. Rosie Harvey 021 924 606 rosie.harvey@raywhite.com Gina Condon 021 606 985 gina.condon@raywhite.com Nikki de Ville 021 383 861 nikki.deville@raywhite.com ness and they’re stronger than timber frames, and create very warm homes. “We have other S.I.P.S modular plans in incubation. I’m drawn to the simplicity of the technology and its capability to deliver meaningful results. “It’s not rocket science to build, and I think there are real opportunities around S.I.P.S’s manufacturing waiting to be pursued,” he says. Three homes using the modular pre-insulated system have been designed and can be viewed on the company’s website: www. rmarchitects.co.nz As an architect, Robert has been involved in feasibility studies for a number of tourism-related projects in the Lake Taupo District and around New Zealand. He has seen a number of these projects not get over the starting line for various reasons, including funding that is too short-term, and resource consent planning processes that are complex, long-winded and open to manipulation by the public if parties are not in support of the project. Recently, Robert, together with a small group of Taupo business people with interests in tourism, put a case to the Minister of Tourism, Louise Upston, for the Government to consider subsidies or grants for these projects, subject to a review process on viability. Twelve possible projects were identified in the submission to the Minister. This has been done with previous governments, and has achieved positive results on projects that have gone on to be successful ventures.
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