I help clients make better decisions that lead to exceptional built outcomes.
HWA
Community Architecture
HWA Architecture provides architectural design services for sports clubs, surf clubs, churches and community projects throughout New Zealand.
I help community organisations turn diverse needs, ambitious ideas, and practical realities into buildings that work for the people who use them and continue delivering value long into the future.
Community buildings often need to work harder than almost any other building type. A single facility may support operations, training, events, meetings, volunteers, visitors, and the wider community, sometimes all within the same day.
Projects can also involve complex stakeholder groups, staged funding, ageing facilities, demanding environments, and decisions that need to stand up to scrutiny from members, funders, councils, and governing organisations.
I work closely with the people involved to understand how the organisation operates now, where it wants to go, and what the building genuinely needs to achieve. That understanding helps establish priorities, test ideas, and develop a project that is practical to deliver and valuable to the organisation long term.
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first step engagement
It all starts with a first step.
Completed Project - Levin - Waitarere Beach Surf Club
The Levin Waitārere Surf Life Saving Club was designed to provide a practical, resilient facility that supports lifesaving operations, training, and the wider beach community. Every space was carefully considered to balance operational efficiency, durability, and a welcoming environment for members and visitors alike.
Waitarere Beach
Community Architecture
2024
In Progress - Paekakariki Surf Lifesaving Club
The Paekakariki Surf Life Saving Club was designed as more than a clubhouse, it is a community hub supporting lifesaving, education, recreation, and resilience. Practical planning, durable materials, and thoughtful design combine to create a building that will serve the community for decades.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Community Architecture
2026
Feasibility Study - Western Suburbs facilities
A long term proposal for Western Suburbs Football Club responds to growing membership and National League ambitions by reimagining the clubrooms as more than a sports facility.
Porirua
Community Architecture
2026
Concept Design - Indoor training facility
The indoor training facility creates a welcoming, all-weather space where sport, learning, and community can come together. Designed to support a wide range of activities, it provides a resilient facility that strengthens participation and expands opportunities for future growth.
Location withheld at client's request.
Community Architecture
2025
Concept Design - Rugby Indoor Training Facilities
The proposed indoor rugby training facility creates a modern training environment that enables players to develop regardless of weather or season. Practical planning, robust construction, and adaptable spaces provide a long-term asset that strengthens both the club and the wider community.
Porirua
Community Architecture
2023
Concept Design - Junior Football Turf
Designed as an investment in community sport, the proposed artificial turf creates a reliable, year-round playing surface that supports growing participation while reducing weather-related disruptions. The surrounding infrastructure was carefully considered to provide a practical, durable, and welcoming sporting environment.
Location withheld at client's request
Community Architecture
2026
Concept Design - Church extension
A modest extension transforms this room into a versatile community hub by introducing new hospitality facilities and informal gathering spaces. Careful planning integrates the addition with the existing building while creating a welcoming environment for everyday use.
Location withheld at client's request
Community 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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Buildings that strengthen what you do
Community projects bring together people, purpose, funding, and often very different priorities. My role is to understand what the organisation is trying to achieve, bring those considerations together, and help turn ambitious ideas into a building that supports what you do.
Drawing on more than 20 years of practical experience, I work with committees, governing organisations, and project teams to explore ideas, test assumptions, and make informed decisions about where time and investment will add the most value.
The outcome should be more than a new building. It should be a facility that works better for the people who use it, supports the organisation behind it, and continues delivering value long into the future.
From early ideas to a completed facility
Community projects often begin long before there is a defined design brief. I can become involved at the earliest stage, helping organisations explore ideas, understand project requirements, test feasibility, and identify the specialist advice needed to move forward.
As the project develops, my involvement can continue through design, visualisation, documentation, consenting, procurement, and construction support.
The level of service is shaped around the project, the organisation, and the capability already within the wider team.