Making Waves

Bespoke and broke: Why New Zealanders are overdosing on over-design By DAN HEYWORTH, 07 Nov 2018 https://idealog.co.nz/urban/2018/11/bespoke-and-broke-why-new-zealanders-are-overdosing-over-design What makes a piece of architecture well designed – is it its surroundings, sustainability, longevity, performance and return on investment? Or is it just the aesthetics? Director of new projects at design-and-build company Box, Dan Heyworth, explains why he…

What has climbing a mountain in Africa got to do with Box™? Well, if we’re honest, not a lot, although we could draw parallels with how much preparation goes into the planning of this exciting journey, how expecting the unexpected is a smart tactic for success without stress, how it takes absolute teamwork to reach…

By Dan Heyworth, Director | New Projects | Box™.   I was interested to read Ben Derbyshire, president of RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects), claim that architects must “take back power”. The article, published in The Guardian, came in the wake of the tragic Grenfell Tower debacle. “…overlapping bureaucracies of compliance make the regulations…

Tropical Gardens and River Views! Long-time residents of Greenhithe, the owners of this home are green-fingered gurus  who had developed a stunning, well-established garden over many years. So when they sub-divided their land and built on the waterfront site, they gave Box™ clear instruction: save the plants! Mature trees were relocated, the swimming pool was…

Back to the future A bold, contemporary extension creates an expansive, light-filled living zone at the rear of this reconfigured 1920s bungalow. Read the full feature here: New Zealand Trends Volume 33 No 4 – Page 74 Box™ is a team of designers, builders and architects in Auckland. If you’d like to chat about your next…

Boxed in: Lowering the Cost of Building Of late, there has been a feeling in the market that residential architecture has become something reserved only for the very top of the market, due mainly to the overall cost of building in New Zealand. Check out the full interview in Archipro. http://blog.archipro.co.nz/architecture/boxed-in-lowering-the-cost-of-building/ Box™ is a team…

Every business needs a bank! Box™ was recently invited by Kiwibank to feature in their latest advertising campaign. It was a lot of fun and also gave us an opportunity to reflect on why we’re in business, what it’s all for and to find our Inner Kiwi! A more in depth video and link to Box™…

Claire McCall Scoops Award! Our exceptionally talented consultant Claire McCall recently scooped an accolade at the 2017 Magazine Media Awards for her writing. Claire was named Best Journalist in the Lifestyle category. She writes about architecture, design and living the dream for a number of publications including NZ Life & Leisure (for which she received…

What does Off-site Construction or Prefab have in common with electricity or the Internet? Like most ‘breakthrough technologies’ the breakthrough can often take decades to fulfil its potential. Check out the full article in idealog. http://idealog.co.nz/design/2017/09/prefab-challenge Box™ is a team of designers and builders in Auckland. If you’d like to chat about your next project,…

Rocking Prefab Around the World It’s not just Box™ that is a fan of off-site construction – design practices around the world are seeking out ways to build more efficiently, with results that are of consistent quality and more eco-friendly with less material waste. Globally, prefabrication is getting the big tick. Here’s a goodie bag…

At Box™ we’re acutely aware that we design and build for the top 1% of the 1%, which is a tragedy in itself and something we’re keen to resolve. We have been giving to the One Percent Collective for a while now and they are a very worthwhile Kiwi charity doing amazing stuff. For those…

It’s getting a little cramped for space but we have another accolade to add to mantelpiece. Actually, make that two. In the latest NZ Wood Timber Design Awards, we received a Highly Commended for a project in Pakiri that comprised a pair of simple, timber pavilions linked by a breezeway. It featured extensive use of…

If you’ve never been inside a real-life Box™ house, here’s the next best option. Grab a cuppa, get settled and then take a 3D experience on our website. (You’ll find it on the home page under the ‘Nice to see you‘ heading). We’re slowly getting more of our houses available to amble around virtually.  Currently…

   Box™ has made impressive inroads into a very particular niche of the housing market: the perfect packaging of smart home building. Their designs sit nicely in the gap between high-end bespoke architect houses and builder-driven construction, which involves less outlay but sometimes not as much style. With Box™ you really do get the best…

Box™ received a high commendation at the NZ Wood Resene Timber Design Awards 2017 for PAK2, bach in Pakiri. See more photos on the NZ Wood website.

Aww shucks, we hate to skite – but we may as well. Two Box™ projects received the Highly Commended thumbs up at the Trends International Design Awards 2016. One is a new build, the other an extension and renovation, which just goes to show how wonderfully adaptable we are! On the hills overlooking the wild…

Simple but kinda classy; A clever use of space; Is the stud extra high? These were common themes in the comments section of the Box™ show-home at Glendowie which, over a period of six months, was visited by around 200 people. Located on a compact infill section, the 180-square-metre house is an example of what…

Box™ is delighted to have received the following commendations at this year’s Trends International Design Awards: Highly Commended – 2016 TIDA New Zealand Architect-designed Renovation KAWAKA   Highly Commended – 2016 TIDA New Zealand Architect-designed New Home PAKIRI   Trends International Design Awards New Zealand Homes    

It’s been five years since we set up shop (and in that time we’ve designed more than 215 houses), so we’re rather chuffed to announce that we finally have our own dedicated showhome. Of course, at Box™, we like to do things differently so, in keeping with the spirit of innovation, this house will not…

Stressful moments are part of every construction process, but the defining test of success is one simple question: Would you do it again? for Hamish and Diane Divett, the answer is Yes… and No – Article written by Claire McCall for Grand Designs Magazine – August 2016 issue [pdf-embedder url=”https://www.box.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Grand-Designs-Hillsborough-House.pdf”] If you’d like to see more…