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Wet area showers in renovations
Wet area showers are a classic case where many generally work on the assumption that installing a tiled or wet area shower in an existing home requires a building consent.

Hamish Wakefield
Jul 287 min read
My path to being called an 'Architect'. Chapter 1 - Why bother?!
What does it actually mean to be called an Architect in New Zealand? Under the Registered Architects Act 2005 the title is legally protected, requiring formal registration through the New Zealand Registered Architects Board. After more than two decades working in architectural practice and running small firms, I’ve begun the process of seeking registration through an experience-based pathway rather than the traditional university and graduate route. This article explores why

Hamish Wakefield
Mar 104 min read
How architects influence construction costs
Building projects have a habit of humbling everyone involved in them. On paper a project can look tidy, rational, even elegant. Then the real world arrives with its material prices, labour pinches, engineering constraints, local council requirements and the laws of physics. Somewhere in that messy intersection sits the actual cost of construction. One of the most common misunderstandings in building projects is the role we play in that equation. As the designers we can influe

Hamish Wakefield
Mar 63 min read


Managing Council Approvals
How HWA manages council approvals

Hamish Wakefield
Mar 62 min read
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