94 | “Fixed fees have been really helpful for our clients because they just have that certainty.” Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST? Affordable designs for limited budgets Clever choice in materials also helps to bring the costs down. ARCHITECTURE Shaw & Shaw Architects T T Roa Watson A Christchurch architecture firm is on a mission to make architectural services more accessible and affordable. Owners Geordie and Emma Shaw, who met while studying architecture in Wellington, both achieving their Masters degrees, had always dreamed of starting their own practice. When a builder friend asked the couple to design their first home, it gave them the start they needed. “That kind of provided a practical opportunity,” Geordie tells Business South. Having worked on a number of high-end properties, they had noticed a gap for smart architecture in the lower-budget housing market that they knew many people were looking for. “There were some very expensive houses that we’d worked on, and there were townhouses that were affordable but not what people were looking for. “Friends and whānau with small budgets were left underwhelmed by the cold, cookie-cutter offerings of group home builders.” He and Emma looked at maximising budgets for people who wanted to build their own home but without having to use one of the large building companies. “We saw there’s a really significant gap between architect-designed homes and what’s happening at the bulk end of the market. “We wanted to provide the affordability of the group home, but with proper design at the foundation. “We’re not going to turn anyone with plenty of money away, but we really get excited about the constraints of a limited budget.” Fundamentally, a well-designed home came down to a well-laid out floor plan, Geordie says. “Our real interest is in being able to design smaller, affordable homes that are going to make the most of people’s sections.” One of their favourite projects had a budget of $350,000 and was just 110sqm. “It was very simple, but it just brought the clients a lot of joy. That’s the work that really interests us.” To make the process as accessible as possible, Shaw & Shaw introduced fixed fees. “We felt that was a common concern that people had with architects. “Fixed fees have been really helpful for our clients because they just have that certainty.” Shaw & Shaw like to spend time with the client prior to starting on the design work, Geordie says. “To get a really good understanding of what they need, and separate the needs from the wants. “It’s being really transparent with the client and really honest when we feel like their budget doesn’t line up with what they’re expecting.” They could guide clients in focussing their money on the right aspects, such as working out what room or rooms they would spend most time in and what areas to prioritise the budget, he says. “That’s where involving an architect is really helpful.” Engaging the builder early was also helpful. “We like to bring the builder on board at an early stage so that they can have input to the construction methodology – matching the skill set of the builder to the construction type and complexity of the build.” Clever choice in materials also helps to bring the costs down, he says. “One of the things Emma and I are really passionate about is ... taking materials that are often sniffed at but actually detailing them really beautifully. It’s something we try to bring to a lot of our clients.” Geordie and Emma hope their work is helping to bring different options to the market that fall in between townhouse and house on the quarter-acre section, and offer some more colour and joy than the standard home build. We pride ourselves in honest craftsmanship. Building quality homes that stand the test of time. New Houses/ New builds Renovations Sky light installation Expansions Garage upgrades Decking Jack Hope 021 226 2626 | jack@BurnsBuilding.co.nz www.burnsbuilding.nz “We build them like our own” Proudly Supporting Shaw & Shaw Architects www.mccarthybuilders.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=