Why do you like architectural design and how did you get involved in that as a career?
Art was possibly my calling, but it wasn't really offered as a career at school. My grandfather was a cabinet maker and used to make wooden toys during his retirement. I'd often get the chance to help him out. Then with Dad being a builder, he would design and build houses for other people and he also built several of our family homes. They
were always a family hands-on project. So early on I was exposed to the craft of making and building things. When it was suggested that I consider draughting as a career, it seemed a good fit. From there, you grow with the craft and the more I was exposed to architecture the more I wanted to know about. I know now that mastering the craft of architecture is akin to finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, you will never get it, but you never stop trying either.
How did it feel to win the supreme award at the Architectural Designers New Zealand/Resene Design Awards?
Elation mixed with relief. Elation, because it's an honour to win the accolade. Relief is more to do with self belief, but when you're pouring your heart and soul into a project and almost every decision rests on your shoulders, this is recognition that vindicates those decisions.
How many design projects have you been involved with and what are your favourites?
By quick calculation, it would have to be more than a thousand over the past 20 years. It's hard to get attached to a building, because after we are finished, all (false) sense of ownership is handed over to the client. It's like your favourite piece of clothing, it's always changing and your latest item is probably your favourite. Buildings are like that. I will like different buildings for different reasons in different years.
What are three things people can do to improve the design of their homes?
It's easy for architecture and design to be ruled by style or aesthetic. However performance and sustainability are really important considerations. For an existing home the three things most people could afford to make an improvement would be.
1.Paint. Can change the mood, the feel and freshness of a space with relative little cost and a bit of paint DIY can be therapeutic. Perhaps do one room at a time.
2.Insulation. There are many publicised benefits to make your home warmer. Health, energy costs reduced. There are grants available to make it more affordable.
3.Be house proud. It's a simple concept. Keep it clean and tidy. By eliminating dirt and dust you are less likely to
suffer any health related issues. Ventilate, open windows on sunny days. A fresh dry home is easier to heat and once again better for your health.
How would you rate the design of buildings in Rotorua and which is your favourite in terms of design and why?
We like our buildings of course. We try really hard on our local projects to make them local. The glass veil with Mokoia Island and Lake Rotorua image on Bright Wild Thomas building is particularly satisfying. Also Trinity House with its play of the black red and white inspired by the traditional maori colour palette is also an interesting modern interpretation.
I can appreciate the architecture of the Bath house and its importance through history to the architectural heritage of Rotorua, I just think it shouldn't define it. Unfortunately some people think we should just replicate the old when it comes to architecture.
If you could change the design of one building in Rotorua, what building would it be?
The Airport Terminal. This isn't a critism of the architects, but perhaps more about the brief for an important building. The Airport terminal is the portal, gateway for many visitors. When you think about it, most other visitors to Rotorua, don't usually enter it through a building, so this is why I think this building should have had more importance placed on it. I don't want to be mis-understood about what I think it should be either, because I don't like any other terminal buildings in New Zealand. They are all a generic of every other terminal around the world. I think it would be nice to welcome and farewell our visitors with an uplifting experience.
Tell us about the most unusual design you have worked on?
Probably the design of the Redwood visitor toilets. The toilet in the mirror glass cylinder amongst the Redwood canopy was a unique concept. It's an enormous shame this aspect has been dumped. I think the opportunity here was too big to be realised. It was political and controversial, but so was the Sydney Opera House. I believe it could have been the best bit of marketing Rotorua could have had in a long while. It would have attracted a lot of national and international attention. Not a bad thing in my mind.
Tell us three things about yourself that most people wouldn't know?
I have competed at two world championships in two different disciplines. In 1989 for BMX and a couple of years ago for MTB Single Speed World Champs in Rotorua.
My kids and their friends when younger have been terrified by me flipping my eye-lids inside out and screaming arrrrrrggh!!!!
I have been on TV twice during the 1980s. Both on a program called That's fairly interesting where we tore down Mount Ngongotaha road on a modified BMX bike using gravity only and the other was jumping our BMX bikes off a ramp on the Ohope Wharf into the harbour. We were kind of like Jackass of the 80's.