Architectural services and design process — Arkhē Architecture, Tauranga & Christchurch
Our process
From first conversation to construction observation.
We believe good design comes from close attention to people and place. We take on projects of all sizes and budgets, working closely with clients from first conversation to completed building.
We specialise in residential new builds, renovations and extensions — from consultation and feasibility through consenting, full architectural design and construction. Detailed 3D modelling and realistic imagery let you see and test the design from the earliest stages.
Services
Design consultancy
- Initial consultation
- Site assessment and selection
- Feasibility studies
- H1 energy efficiency modelling
Architectural design
- Full architectural design — concept to construction documentation
- Building consent
- Construction observation
- Consultants coordination
Interior design
- Materials and colour palette selection
- Bespoke cabinetry design
- Kitchen design coordination
- Lighting design coordination
Design process
01Initial consultation
The first meeting is free and without obligation. We talk through your site, your brief and your budget — what you need, what you'd like, and what's realistic. You'll leave knowing how we work, what the process involves and what happens next.
02Project establishment
Before drawing begins, we gather everything the design must answer to:
- Service agreement and programme of services
- Site inspection — conditions, constraints and opportunities
- Council rules, title and any consent notices affecting the site
03Concept design
The brief becomes drawings: building form, position on site, orientation and early planning. By the end of this stage the design is settled enough for a first cost estimate — from a quantity surveyor or through early contractor engagement.
04Developed design
The approved concept is refined and coordinated with the consultants the project needs — structure, services, landscape — and any resource-consent or budget adjustments are worked in.
05Detailed design
The full construction set: drawings, specifications and schedules, ready for building consent and for builders to price.
06Construction observation
We stay involved through the build, observing construction to confirm the work follows the documents — and to answer the questions every site raises.