One of the main reasons that I am passionate about New Zealand Architecture is that I believe Architecture should reflect who we are personally, and also as a country.  I have been in awe of some of the spaces I have been in recently; massive open atriums with bridges that curiously snake and connect through space. I also see a great deal of impressive architecture that I don't think is connected to the people using it. I guess I am mainly talking about our homes, the places we live with our families and do life.

Homeownership is always going to be part of kiwi culture. A big part of that is having a ‘large home’ and the 'wow factor'. I completely understand that…it is part of celebrating success and achievement; however, I think we are missing home space that serves a deeper purpose and really enhances and adds to our lives and the way we live. I believe one of our core values as a country is our pride in being innovative, and our architecture should reflect that. We also have a humble, understated and practical down to earth approach to live; and I believe that we prefer to live in a real world with what really matters.

For me; connection is the deeper part of ‘living’ that we are missing; I think we are crying out for a solution that meets our needs and at the same time enables us to feel that we are part of the bigger picture. There is nothing more satisfying than to innovatively make something and see it  adding to the way we live. If we create homes, by using what we have in a smart way; we will develop our own architecture and a stronger  'connection' to the environment.

- Andy