Approach
Stakeholder Engagement
CO-STUDIO is our architecture practice with a shifted emphasis to solving built environment problems with people. This people-centric approach is inspired by the words of a Pritzker Prize winning architect Glenn Murcutt, describing the best approach to architecture: “We don’t design buildings. We discover them”.
Our philosophy is that successful, truly sustainable, and enduring architecture is created through a process that fully involves all stakeholders who will have a long-term relationship with the building. We prioritise active listening and engage with clients and end-users to understand their needs and concerns.
We recognise the value of stakeholder engagement, and we believe that everyone has a role to play in the design process. We work with tenants, visitors, customers, builders, councils, design teams, and maintenance personnel to ensure that we deliver a solution that meets the needs of all.
Our team understands that the best solutions emerge when we bring together a diverse range of perspectives, experiences, and expertise. Our skill lies in understanding the unique requirements of each stakeholder and developing a design solution that balances their needs, wants, and budget.
Sustainability
Our team are trained and qualified GreenStar and HomeStar Practitioners, equipping us with the latest building knowledge for a sustainable world, but also helping get your project the accreditation it deserves.
We will support and educate you about creating a healthy and sustainable built environment. We are passionate about making the world a better place and making a light touch on it. We incorporate smart and efficient solutions into our design that truly have the long-term in mind, minimising harm to the environment, and support the health of our communities.
Design & Build
Design & Build is a project delivery method where a single entity, typically a construction firm, is responsible for both the design and construction of a project. This streamlined approach integrates the traditionally separate design and construction phases into a cohesive process, reducing the overall project timeline and minimizing the potential for conflicts and miscommunication between the design and construction teams.
At CO-STUDIO, we specialise in Design & Build delivery methods because of the numerous benefits it offers our clients and end-users. By working collaboratively with our contractor partners, we're able to create smart, durable, cost-effective solutions that are easy to build. Our team's close coordination and communication with our contractor partners allows us to address potential construction issues early in the design process, minimizing costly change orders and delays.
Overall, the Design & Build approach promotes a 'best for project' mindset that focuses on meeting the project's goals in the most efficient and effective manner possible. By taking full responsibility for both the design and construction, we can ensure that our clients' expectations are met, and that the project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
Bicultural Design
Bicultural design in Aotearoa emerges from the partnership between two signatories of Te Tiriti o Waitangi tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa, and tangata tiriti, the people who followed. We acknowledge and respect the unique world view of Tangata Whenua and their ancestral relationship with the natural environment, which is a source of wellbeing and identity. Te Tiriti inspires us to use architecture as a means to realise values, connect people to place, and enact positive change.
We recognise that indigenous cultures are essential to the built identities of all progressive societies. Our practice has extensive experience supporting bicultural engagement processes for projects of public, institutional, and cultural significance. Our approach is built around deep and regular engagement with the communities we serve, an iterative design process, and an unwavering belief that the best design outcomes come from collaboration. With the right people and process, progressive architecture, shaped by an indigenous world view, has the potential to propel our cities forward and mark a new level of sophistication in our built environments, inspired by histories and traditions that are uniquely ours.
The our core design team have completed Te Reo training courses and continually look to further our Mātauranga Māori, especially in our work to date on education and community projects. Some of the most successful projects are where we see early engagement with iwi / whānau groups and established cultural narratives can deepen and enhance the understanding of Mātauranga Māori together; not only during design but the lasting community benefits, both tangible and intangible.
Within the Waitaha (greater Canterbury) region we have worked with a number of Ngai Tahu / Kai Tahu iwi and hapu and always respect that each engagement is a new one so don’t rest on our past.
Our training and appreciation has supported us in designing many Kura projects (bilingual schools), where biculturalism is a key principle within the project. This experience prepares us for future projects where we seek to further partner with local iwi and tangata whenua.
Building Information Management (BIM)
Our state-of-the-art technology and advanced skills is are available to solve your complex problems and create workflow efficiency using BIM on every project.
By deploying BIM on all projects, we establish a technology-support relationship with the project engineers. These services help mitigate design coordination risks and ensure all disciplines work under a shared set of protocols. Using BIM, we are able to coordinate designs resulting in a consistent and efficient result; all the while creating a catalogue of details ideal for modularised construction or repeated designs.
Beyond improved quality of design, BIM is employed on projects to produce photo-realistic renders and fly-throughs - perfect for clients who like to see experience the design in 3D.