Making places for people,

to come together and share, to create community, and to retreat, to find calm and sanctuary.

Corinna School
A recent weathertightness refurbishment of a formula block. A new entrance canopy that expresses the schools culture culture that provides a memorable sense of arrival and identity....

Home of the Year 2024 Finalist

Bell House selected as a finalist for 2024 Home of the Year. Click here to vote for Readers' Choice.

State House to Passive House 8 – Step 4 – Let's Go Shopping (for windows and ventilation)

The initial modelling gives a proof of concept. It should give an idea of what type of construction, and insulation levels you need. It will tell you what performance level you need for your windows. This allows you to go shopping for windows.

Te Aro School - Reading Recovery

Working with Spanbild Projects, utilising the innovative Concision panelised prefabricated construction technology, we have shown that quality new school buildings can be delivered quickly and economically.

Kara Schoch

Kara started her journey in architecture after moving from Christchurch to Wellington in 2014. After the earthquakes and seeing the rebuild beginning, her interest in architecture grew into career aspirations – with particular interest in intergenerational housing, age-care housing, and education spaces.

After graduating in 2019 Kara has gained experience in residential and education projects while growing skills in Archicad, BimX and TwinMotion. Outside of architecture Kara enjoys making art – from lino cutting to chalk pastels – the freedom and flexibility of using different media is something she would like to implement more going forward. Her current focuses include the effects of colour in space and inclusivity in the field of architecture.

Inspired by our natural environment,

to enhance and seek stronger connection.

Bell House

Passive House Certified, this construction uses a range of innovative techniques, providing an ultra-low energy building with excellent thermal comfort and indoor air quality.

Evidence-based design

Developing brief and design from research, exploration and exchange of ideas. Designing for wellbeing, low energy, low impact with a whole building approach that assures performance.

Sacred Heart College
We were brought in to help the school with seismic issues in a significant building. To inform the decision process we undertook a masterplan exercise to understand what the opportunities for keeping or replacing this building.

State House to Passive House 5 – Step 1 - Researching State Houses

If it's good information in, and good information out, the first step is playing detective and finding as much information as possible about the building. In this case, an Ex-New Zealand State House from the 1940s. This is a record of my search. Another great thing about working on a classic state house is that there is so much information available. Check it out.

Learning Environments Australasia Design Awards 2023 Winner

We are honored that our work at Silverstream School has been recognised as the winner of the Small Projects Under $2m catagory.

State House to Passive House 4 – Deep Retrofit Workflow in 10 Steps

How should you go about a deep retrofit of an existing house? These are our 10 steps.

Coincidently, the excellent Reimagine Buildings have just issued their 10 Steps To Designing Your First Passive House” video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA0oKPw2cas.Our steps assume you have already got the design advice in place.

Bell House

Passive House Certified, this construction uses a range of innovative techniques, providing an ultra-low energy building with excellent thermal comfort and indoor air quality.