award-winning architectural studio

One of the most common questions we get asked is; how does the design process work? Whilst huge amounts of work go on in the background, l will attempt to give you a very top-line overview to cut through some of the misconceptions. Firstly, actually creating a brief is something that people often find the most challenging. After all, once people have come to the decision to build, there is of course so much choice! We start by having clients complete a very simple on-line system that asks practical questions to automatically generate a design brief. This system asks questions people may not have thought off, such as; do you want a covered area to protect from the elements at your front door? Are there any rooms/internal aspects you don’t want people to be able to see into when approaching your home? Are there any view aspects you don’t want to be able to see from your home? Aesthetic and material choice is critical to the overall look and feel. Pinterest and Archipro is great and we have lots of inspirational pictures as a reference, however it is important to remember that some of these pictures are very budget dependent! When we have all the information to hand, including a clear understanding of budget, we will organise to meet on the site to distill this information further. If required, we will come up with suggestions to modify the brief to save on cost. Once we have a good idea of how people live, we can often find ways to reduce the footprint of the home by creating multi-purpose zones. We then make all this tangible with an initial sketch that collates all of this information, whilst always balancing with budget. I really enjoy designing with hand sketches in the initial phase, (rather than on a computer) as it keeps the design very fluid and allows some of the individuality of each home design to be reflected at an earlier phase in the process. The sketch is then presented to the client and amended as required. The sketch stage leads onto developed design. This is where the sketch design is loaded onto the computer and modeled. This allows clients to walk through their home and gain a full understanding of the design. This is an incredibility powerful tool as it turns the piece of paper into reality. Following the developed design we move into pricing drawings. This stage delivers a portion of the full construction drawings to the respective builder/s for estimate pricing. Once estimate pricing has been submitted we review the figures to ensure we are comparing ‘apples with apples’. Upon client approval we proceed into full consent/construction drawings. Another critical stage where accuracy is key. Accurate drawings flow through to construction allowing for an enjoyable and seamless construction process.

The term ‘eco homes’ is a term coined over the last decade, however like many trend related terms, people know it is good but don’t exactly know how or why. Firstly let’s distil it a little further – what is passive solar design? This is essentially designing a home that optimises the sun’s energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces. This is one of the fundamentals of good architectural practice and should be considered when designing a new home. Each home should be designed for the local climate and site conditions to maximise the home owners comfort and health whilst minismising energy use. We are able to achieve this via the correct placement of windows, doors, angles of roof lines and eves. Also materials and room placement. It is not necessarily a matter of adding expensive elements however instead of optimal placement. This is extremely hard to achieve with a ‘set plan’ as often the smallest adjustment in angles can have a big influence on the overall effectiveness of passive solar energy. After the design, it is a matter of looking at the individual materials. Concrete floors are a great as a ‘heat sink’ as they store thermal energy from the sun throughout the day. Placement of windows and doors and floor covering selection can aid this. Systems such as Ribraft floor are great in terms of their insulating properties (notwithstanding speeding up the construction process) and should be considered when building. Cladding materials and double glazing continue to add to the thermal envelope of the home. Then it is a matter of balancing how much you want to spend vs the benefits. Some things to consider is how long you are planning on staying in your home as in most cases the ‘pay-back’ period is a matter of some years but for others this is more of an environmental consideration. There are some very exciting new product developments that have come to market over recent years such as evolutions in solar, warm roofs, pressurised environments and ducted systems to name a few. When specifying materials for a home as an architectural practice we are very proactive at reviewing the environmental impacts of certain materials. In some of our homes we are using a Caviller Bremworth Carpet made from recycled fishing nets! We also use mammoth insulation which is recycled plastic. What is exciting is that more suppliers are now able to provide options that ticks all the boxes; design, cost effectiveness and positive environmental impact. We expect this very positive trend will continue to thrive.

I just want something basic, will this service cost more than a set plan? Generally speaking, no (when comparing like for like). What we offer is a bespoke home design service with your vision in mind so while our cost is reflective of the time involved in detailing you'll know from the out-set what the cost will be as opposed to getting a nasty surprise later on (as is often the case when you make changes to a set plan). How should l prepare for the initial meeting? When it comes to style we want to be on your wavelength, so we'd love for you to bring along any visual aids that will help us to better understand your vision. Magazine cuttings and Pinterest boards are great, or websites such as houzz.com have good ideas too. Is it stresssful? In a nutshell, no. Our unique service and close-knit team means that we can take care of everything from the initial concept right through to the finishing touches on your home. We also have access to two exceptional interior designers (Urban Lounge & Gezellig Interiors) who we utilise to ensure that your experience is even easier. We also like to keep you in the loop at all times. Thanks to some world class systems we're able to give you access to your own secure website, that you can log into on any computer and view photos of your house as it develops. Your website also includes daily logs from project managers and a timeline that shows you exactly what will be happening on site everyday until the day you move in! What if l don't have a clear idea of what l want? That is fine. In our initial meeting we'll take the opportunity to get to know you better, starting with how you live and build an idea from there. Our interior designers also help to fine tune this experience as well. At what stage do l start paying? All the initial stages of planning (as outlined below) are complimentary. Including: - Site meeting (1 hour) - Review of on-line assessment - Client meeting to further ascertain requirements (1 hour) From this point, a full fee proposal will be presented. What are the benefits of this service? We pride ourselves on being a close-knit team (where everybody knows one another) so that we can work collectively and efficiently at all stages of the build. Our designers and architects are in constant communication with project managers from the get-go and are regularly out on site. This gives Jon and his design team a massive insight into ensuring the most efficient allocation of materials (and labour) from the initial design stages right through to completion. We have a quantity surveyor based in-house which means that there are no big surprises with costs. This is especially useful in situations where you may need to make late changes to plans given that this would normally incur substantial design fees. Do l own the plans? Yes Thorne Group Architecture is a separate business from Thorne Group build. You will pay for your plans separately and can build with other builders if you wish.

It is the little details, the understanding of how in the practical sense, plans on paper relate to the practicality on site. It is working with a broader team to mitigate potential problems, as well as ensuring materials and labour are maximized and minimizing wastage on site. It is having a though understanding of construction costs from the start of the project. It is ensuring there is a seamless connection between spaces based on how clients live in a space. It is the integration of design features that seamlessly blend form with function. However it is also listening, ensuring the home is what the client wants, because although you want to inspire clients you still have to have ability to be completely flexible. This means having the ability to design any style of home without pushing a your own particular ‘style’ on the client. #designandbuild #archiecture #tauranga

1 Covered outdoor area: This isn’t just about providing shade on a summery day. With detailed planning and clever design taking into account privacy, views, prevailing winds and sun angles, a covered outdoor area can be functional even on the coldest winter’s day.views, prevailing winds and sun angles, a covered outdoor area can be functional even on the coldest winter’s day. 2 Flexible spaces: Lots of people specify ‘open plan’ on their brief, but we find that flexible spaces work better. For example, a large feature door between the kitchen/ dining and living areas serves as a removable wall. Slide it closed to separate noisy children while you enjoy a glass of wine with your friends, or open it up to create a sense of space. Your need for space changes as your family develops. 3 Study nook: Another item people often write on the brief is a separate study. We have found study nooks to be a better option; electronic devices are so portable, a separate room isn’t necessary. It’s great to put the children there with homework, keeps you connected to warmth and the action of the house, and best of all, saves on floor area and therefore costs, freeing up budget for other areas. 4 Window seat: Placed correctly, a window seat can perform many functions; in this home it is integrated near the kitchen, so that when the living room is closed off, it immediately creates another entertaining zone, for people to sit and chat while your chef creates magic in the kitchen. Floor space does not need to be increased to accommodate the window seat, and you can use it for more storage too. 5 Feature ceilings: Use your ceiling as a canvas to create feeling. The trusses in this photo may look simple, but as we often say at The Thorne Group, the devil is in the detail. The structure looks incredibly neat, belying the huge amount of engineering, physics and millimetre precise execution behind it. The result is a feeling of extra volume. #tauranga #architecture #designandbuild

“There is always a compromise when building. Whether it be budget, site restrictions, product selection to name a few. Our design process exposes these compromises at an early stage” “There shouldn’t be compromises in design, just great alternative design solutions that maximise your new homes potential. We step outside the square and find these solutions”. “Your dream home very rarely fits within your budget, even if you have a large budget there are often compromises during the process. What we do to ensure a clients budget goes further is apply some basic design principles to the plans. This ensures that clients still get a plan that meets their priorities as well as creating the lifestyle features and wow factor they’ve always dreamt of” 1. Reducing the building footprint: “A large home doesn’t necessarily mean it is a better designed home or you gain more value from the additional space. In fact there can be much more design thought involved with a smaller home when you take into account site and space restraints. It brings you back to the heart of architectural design fundamentals – position for sun, efficient links between spaces etc. Often in larger homes with generous building envelopes there can be waste” says Jon. 2. Eliminate dead space. Hallways are generally a fundamental requirement in designing a home. Obviously reducing the amount of hallway length is beneficial, but turning a hallway into a design element and creating an exciting linking space is good design. A full height window at the end of a hallway ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ connects the interior to the exterior and turns a cold dark unwelcoming space into a bright, interesting feature gallery space. 3. Keep it simple. Good design is simple and functional. Trying too hard with design generally works out more costly and the end result doesn’t function for the intended use. 4. A custom design creates cost savings in the long run. A well designed bespoke home utilitises basic architectural fundamentals. Position for sun, eaves to control solar gain, product selection, ventilation to name a few. Every design we engage incorporates these architectural fundamentals. I believe a set plan ‘nipped and tucked’ on a site is a substantial compromise for what could be a unique home designed from the sketch pad up. 5. Detailing: People often have the assumption that a floor plan with basic measurements is all that is required. In fact there are so many complicated aspects to the detailing process. Working with suppliers, quantity surveyors, project managers and builders from the start of the project then dovetails into the detailing ensuring the most efficient use of materials and labour, hence saving clients money without compromising the overall design.