I help clients make better decisions that lead to exceptional built outcomes.
HWA
Architecture
HWA Architecture provides architectural design services for thoughtful, practical homes shaped around how you live, your site, budget, and the decisions that create lasting value.
A home shaped around you
Building a new home is a rare opportunity to consider hundreds of decisions together from the beginning.
How you live, the qualities of the site, budget, planning requirements, construction, materials, comfort, and long term value all influence the decisions made along the way. My role is to understand what matters to you, bring those considerations together, and develop a home that responds appropriately to your life and its place.
I listen carefully, test ideas, and explore different possibilities before committing to a direction. Sometimes the best outcome comes from an ambitious idea. Other times it comes from simplifying the project, challenging an assumption, or investing more in the parts of the home that will make the greatest difference every day.
The aim is not to impose a particular architectural style. It is to make better decisions throughout the project and create a home that feels considered, cohesive, and uniquely yours.
I bring more than 20 years of architectural experience to new home projects, helping clients navigate the decisions that shape a home from the earliest ideas through to construction.
A new home brings together far more than a collection of rooms. The way you live, the qualities of the site, budget, planning requirements, construction methods, comfort, materials, and long term priorities all influence the decisions made throughout the project.
These considerations rarely exist in isolation. A decision about orientation may influence views, sunlight, structure, outdoor living, and energy performance. Increasing space in one area may mean investing less somewhere else. The right answer is often found by understanding how the different parts of the project connect.
My role is to listen, ask the right questions, test ideas, and bring together the information and specialist advice needed to make informed decisions as the design develops.
The aim is to create a home that responds to you, the site, and the realities of the project, with each decision contributing to a considered and cohesive whole.
01
first step engagement
It all starts with a first step.
From early ideas to a completed home
New home projects benefit from early thinking and a clear understanding of the site, budget, planning requirements, construction approach, and the way you want to live.
I can become involved from the earliest stage to explore possibilities, test assumptions, coordinate specialist advice, and understand the decisions that may influence the project.
From there, my involvement can continue through design, visualisation, documentation, consenting, builder procurement, and construction support, with the level of service shaped around the home you want to create and the support you need
Completed Project - Alpine Living
In the shadows of the southern alps and the reflection of Lake Tekapo this warm and spacious holiday home has been designed for the owners to spend the day adventuring outdoors and come home to a chilled out entertainers paradise.
Lake Tekapo
High Country Architecture
2021
Completed Project - Seatoun Sanctuary
In the tightly held seaside suburb of Seatoun in Wellington this bespoke home has been designed for warmth, comfort, style and privacy.
Wellington
Urban Architecture
2010
Residential Alteration feedback
This is the second project I've engaged HWA for. I wouldn't have gone back if I wasn't happy the first time - and this project has been just as successful. Happy to (and frequently do) recommend HWA - just as long as he doesn't get so popular and busy that he can't work on my next projects.
- L Jensen
New Home feedback
From the moment I saw the concept I knew he'd nailed it. We didn't change a thing.
- D. Pelvin
Developer feedback
Hamish has done an amazing job for us designing homes to sell and our own home. We have worked with a number of designers over the years but Hamish's designs have always been spot on. Highly recommend!
-V Floyd
Commercial alteration feedback
Wow, we were expecting some compromise and complications extending our building, the design had no compromises, was achieved around the expected budget and with minimal disruption. Very happy with the result.
- Commercial building owner, Porirua
Commercial alteration feedback
Hamish has taken a simple in theory challenge and navigated the complexity of council, engineers and contractors to enable us to improve our commercial building and increase the rentable space.
-Commercial Landlord, Porirua
Completed Project - Bishops Vineyard
In the tightly held rural sub-division of Bishops Vineyard this bespoke home has been designed for outdoor entertaining, comfort, style and privacy.
Otaki
Rural Architecture
2010
In progress - Horowhenua Lifestyle
Designed to nestle into a rural landscape slope with expansive outlook this family home was to bring the Central Otago to the Horowhenua. The home features four bedrooms, triple car garaging, three bathrooms and open plan living with pool house and multiple large outdoor entertaining spaces.
Rural - Horowhenua
Rural Architecture
2026
Ready to talk about your project?
You don't need to have everything worked out. Tell me what you're considering and we can start from there.
Enquiries are typically responded to within 1 business day during normal business hours.
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