| 59 T T Richard Loader Designs that ‘don’t break the bank’ This Lyttleton house won the Regional Category One Architectural Design Award (ADNZ) for homes up to 150sqm. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Shaped Architecture Invercargill-based Shaped Architecture Ltd has the goal of providing high-end architectural homes for a reasonable price. As architectural designer Richard Humphries explains, to achieve this they offer a selection of pre-designed house concepts at a fixed price, between 30% and 50% cheaper than a typical high-end architectural design. With eight designs to choose from, each available for a maximum of 10 times, Shaped Architecture aims to bring high-end architectural features and finishes to a more affordable market. Richard and his wife Joanna established Shaped Architecture Ltd in Christchurch in 2019, a few years after they returned from London. Working overseas, Richard gained a wealth of experience beyond just technical and design skills. For example, while employed as a design manager for an Australian firm in the Solomon Islands, he led a team rebuilding essential infrastructure like courtrooms and hospitals. This role taught him not only about design, but also people management, managing a multi-million-dollar budget, and the importance of collaborating with locals. His time in London was different again. Richard worked for a company that specialised in building museum showcases and organising high-profile events, such as Google Zeitgeist. It was there that he developed a keen eye for detail. This attention to detail likely helped him land a job designing highend architectural homes worth millions of pounds. “We’d design entire rooms around a single piece of art,” he recalls. After returning to Christchurch, Richard collaborated with friends that owned a building firm. They collaborated on a house in Lyttleton, built to maximise the site’s sunshine and views. The project won the Regional Category One Architectural Design Award (ADNZ) for homes up to 150sqm. After completing three more houses, Richard decided to step away from project management and focus entirely on drafting and design. He continued working on commercial and industrial projects and still works remotely for clients. Earlier this year, Richard and Joanna relocated to Invercargill with their two young daughters to be closer to family. Since moving south, his primary focus has shifted back to his passion: residential homes. He is currently renovating a mid-century-style home, aiming to make it more family-friendly without losing its original charm. At the same time, he is eager to test his ideas around design and drawing packages. Shaped Architecture’s eight detailed concept designs on its website can all be customised to suit a specific site. These designs provide enough detail for clients to get an initial price estimate from builders. “If someone has a site, anywhere in the country, we can work with them either locally or remotely,” Richard explains. “We make the necessary tweaks to the basic concept. Once it’s finalised, we move to the working drawings required for consent and to hand over to the builder.” Richard also prioritises sustainable design principles, focusing on creating spaces that suit his clients, whether a young family or a professional couple, while maximising the use of available space. He is also open to working with clients on bespoke, custom designs. TM Leading the way in custom joinery for over 25 years. TRENDSKITCHENS .CO.NZ NELSON | BLENHEIM | CHRISTCHURCH | CROMWELL | AUCKLAND Committed to delivering high quality products & outstanding service. Architectural new builds, renovations & alterations. 027 304 1276 hintonconstruct@gmail.com Hinton Construction Ltd Proudly supporting Shaped Architecture
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