Drawing clients to greener lives

Architects need to understand the technical side of their job as well as having strong visual skills. Photo / Thinkstock

Helping people get the most from their homes when it comes to saving energy is a passion for Wanaka-based architect Anne Salmond.

She has been designing properties for more than 26 years, specialising in sustainable homes that stay warm in winter and cool in summer - with as little drain on the power grid and natural resources as possible.

She's a fan of what she calls "passive" sustainability, where the very design, location and position of a home helps owners live a more environmentally friendly life - such as using windows for ventilation instead of an air conditioner.

Salmond graduated from Victoria University in Wellington, studied landscape architecture at Cornell University and was a research Fellow at Victoria University.

Her practice, Salmond Architecture, has received a number of design awards for buildings in Wellington and the Queenstown Lakes District.

She says it is exciting times for people looking at a career in architecture as so many modern building materials are now coming along, there's more use of steel and glass, and pre-fabricated wall panels that arrive in a flat pack - all pre-insulated.

"It means a modular home can be erected in a few days once the concrete slab is down," she says.

"It is making sustainable home building cheaper and the modular design means you only need to build what you need to live in today - you can add rooms later on," says Salmond.

Dr Hugh Byrd of The University of Auckland, which offers a Master of Architecture in Sustainable Design, says when it comes to property, people often consider its resale value over sustainable design.

"In New Zealand, houses have traditionally been your way of acquiring capital towards your pension, so the value of a property has often been paramount to clients," he says.

"That often means that if a sea view conflicts with where windows should be located for best performance, then the sea view will win because it will help sell the house for more in the long term.

"These are some of the situations architects will find themselves in. They will know the best sustainable design, but it may not be what the client wants - so it can be frustrating for the architect."

Byrd says students are starting to appreciate what sustainable design involves and some do look to specialise in this area.

"There has been a change of attitude among students," he says.

However, he says sustainable design is nothing new, "it just has a new name now".

"In the 1970s it was all energy efficiency, the word sustainable in buildings has come about in the last 10 years or so," he says.

"What has changed is that sustainability is starting to be measured under the Green Star system. So it can be measured against a set of criteria now."

Green Star is a voluntary rating scheme that evaluates the environmental attributes and performance of New Zealand's buildings. It has been developed by the New Zealand Green Building Council in partnership with the building industry.

For those looking at a career in architecture, the route is not quick and ongoing annual training is required. It can take up to eight or nine years before a person can become a registered architect, it is a long-haul process that requires ongoing training to keep up with new standards, techniques and products.

"It is a real balancing act," says Byrd. "You have to understand the technical side of the job and the aesthetic side of it. Every student comes out with a different balance - which is a good thing."

Architects, says Byrd, need to have a knowledge of different styles of architecture, understand the relevant legislation including the New Zealand Building Code, the Resource Management Act and local by-laws, consent procedures and planning regulations.

An in-depth knowledge of building methods and materials is needed as is how various materials, such as steel, glass and wood perform in different situations - what might work in one location may not be so efficient in another.

A 2009 New Zealand Institute of Building survey found that architectural graduates earn between $39,000 and $60,000 a year, depending on the region.

HOW TO BECOME AN ARCHITECT

To become a registered architect, you need:

* A Bachelor of Architectural Studies
* A Masters of Architecture (Professional)

These must be degree courses recognised by the New Zealand Registered Architects Board. It typically takes five years to get both degrees.

An architectural graduate then needs to complete 140 weeks of on-the-job practical work experience to become a registered architect.

Sources / Careers Service

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