Architect vs architectural designer in New Zealand: which do you need?

In New Zealand, "architect" is a protected title under the Registered Architects Act 2005. Only people registered with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB) can call themselves architects. Architectural designers design buildings too, and many hold professional memberships and building licences, but they are not registered architects.

For most homes, alterations and many commercial buildings, either can design your project. What matters most is the quality of their portfolio, their experience with projects like yours, and how well you work together.

Architectural designers take a project from the first conversation through concept design, consent documentation and construction support. Many are members of Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ), which runs national design awards, and many are Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP) in the design class, which allows them to carry out restricted building work design.

Archco's founders are award-winning architectural designers, ADNZ members and Licensed Building Practitioners. Our projects have won ADNZ national awards and been finalists for Home of the Year.

Look at completed work, not just renders. Ask about projects with similar sites, budgets and consent challenges. Ask how fees are structured and what each stage includes. And meet the people you'll actually be working with. A good designer should make the process clearer, not more complicated.