I regard architecture to be everyman’s art. I say this because nobody can escape it or fail to have an opinion of it. Architecture is not just about function and performance, it must have that inexpressible quality that lifts our spirits and inspires us. It must express who we are and be our legacy to the future.
Few things have a more lasting influence than our buildings, so I believe the role of the architectural designer is key. They must bring together professionals, manufacturers, artisan builders and craftsmen to shape the built environment around us. They must use technologies and ideas from the past and present, and look to the future to create buildings of aesthetic integrity, function and above all beauty.
Achieving a balance between these elements, as well as meeting the vision and performance needs of the client, takes time and is no mean feat. And, because nothing exists in isolation, the designer must give the same consideration to the geographic and cultural context of a building. When the right balance is found, this is when architecture becomes art, and this is what we strive for in all of our work.
To achieve this there must be as much consideration given to the continuation of our history as to exploration of the new. In this sense, and with these values, we see ourselves as The New Classicists of New Zealand architecture.
Greg Noble