Rafe Maclean Architects is focused on providing carefully designed building solutions for contemporary residential and commercial projects throughout New Zealand.
Our studio size enables to produce very high-quality project outcomes with a high level of interaction with the design team and our clients.
With detailing that is sensible and well-crafted while prioritising energy conservation, playfulness and visual legibility.
We aim to use low toxic building materials in all our projects and inform occupational energy use through pre-construction checks. We aim to provide a holistic view around the best building design solution that works now and for future generations.
Our goal is for all our projects to be built to a certifiable Passivhaus standard.
The work produced by the studio has been recognised with various architectural awards & international publications.
We look forward to discussing your project.
1. Ideas Phase—
Explores the possibilities of the project, working with client and quantity surveyors to manage budget and aesthetic expectations.
2. Detail Phase—
Documents the ideas, working with other consultants as required.
3. Construction Phase—
The ideas are built working with a building contractor.
In parallel with providing beautiful design solutions, we utilise project specific building science to provide energy performance data to the project before construction begins – to identify design opportunities through analysis of capital cost versus operational expenses.
2023
Southern Architecture Award; for Owens House, Wānaka. Category: Housing
Southern Architecture Award; for Winders Street House, Wānaka. Category: Housing
2022
Southern Architecture Award; for Ross Campion House, Wānaka. Also, recipient to a Resene Colour Award
2020
Southern Architecture Award; for Long Grass House, Hawea Flat. Category: Small Project Award. Also, recipient to a Resene Colour Award
2019
Southern Architecture Award; for Te Kea Hut, Wanaka. Category: Small Project Award. Also, recipient to a Resene Colour Award. Shortlisted for NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award.
NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award, Southern Architecture Award; for Kowhai House (Certified Passive House), Dunedin. Category: Housing. Also, recipient to a Resene Colour Award.
South Pacific Passive House: Architectural Merits Award; for Kowhai House
2017
NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award, Southern Architecture Award; for Gardner House, Wanaka. Category: Housing
South Pacific Passive House: Architectural Merits Award; for George House
2016
NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award, Southern Architecture Award; for George House (Certified Passive House), Wanaka. Category: Housing
2013
NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award, Southern Architecture Award; for Acland House, Wanaka. Category: Sustainable Architecture
NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award, Southern Architecture Award; for Acland House, Wanaka. Category: Housing
New Zealand Commercial Projects Award, Gold Award Winner; for Rippon Hall, Lake Wanaka, Category: Tourism and Leisure
New Zealand Commercial Projects Award, National Category Winner, for Rippon Hall, Lake Wanaka, Category: Tourism and Leisure
2012
NZ Wood Resene Timber Awards – Finalist Commercial & Innovation categories – for Rippon Hall, Wanaka_ Rafe Maclean Architects
2011
NZIA Southern Architecture Award for Wilson House, Wanaka_Rafe Maclean Architects
2010
NZIA Southern Architecture Award for Waite House, Wanaka_Rafe Maclean Architects
2006
NZIA New Zealand Award for Ian Louise House, Wellington_Rafe Maclean Architects
Supreme Award Winner, Origin Timber Awards 2006, Commercial/Public Building – Architectural Excellence, DAC Law Building, Hawkes Bay_collaboration with Kebbell Daish Wellington
First Place, Wellington Architectural Centre 20 under 40 design competition
2005
NZIA Local Architecture Award for Ian Louise House, Wellington_Rafe Maclean Architects
2004
NZIA Local Architecture Award for Chow Canopy, Wellington_Herriot & Melhuish Architecture
2002
NZIA Local Architecture Award for Northland Houses, Wellington_Herriot & Melhuish Architecture
NZIA Local Architecture Award, NZIA New Zealand Award, Lower Shotover Road House, Queenstown_New Work Studio
2001
NZIA Local Architecture Award for Tyson House, Wellington_New Work Studio
1998
Finalist NZIA Architectural Awards, Brown House, Waikanae_John Daish Architects
1997
Carter Holt Harvey National Architect Graduate Award
1995
National Firth Masonry Villa Design Competition – Creative Award
Here Magazine (NZ), Issue 19, 2023, Fortress of Zen (Owens House), pp 60-72
Devitt, S & Stevens, A & Scott, L. Cape to Bluff, New Zealand, 2023, pp 246-257 (Winders Street House)
Here Magazine (NZ), Issue 16, 2023, Well Played (McPherson Street Project), pp 36-37
Dwell Magazine (online), Long Grass House.
Here Magazine (NZ), Issue 10, 2022, Play it by Air (Ross Campion House), pp 70-81
ArchDaily (online), Kōwhai House.
ArchDaily (online, China), Kōwhai House.
ArchDaily (online), Ross Campion House.
ArchDaily (online, China), Ross Campion House.
The Local Project (online, Australia), Ross Campion House.
Here Magazine (NZ), Issue 02, 2020, Scaling Up (Long Grass House)
Sanctuary Magazine, Modern Green Homes (Australia), Issue 49 Summer 2019/20, Southern Succes Story (Kowhai House), pp 16-20
Home (NZ) Hello Sunshine, article on Kowhai House, June/July issue, 2019
Passive House + (Ireland), Issue 29 2019_International Selection (Kowhai House), pp28-29
Home (NZ) article on Te Kea hut, December/January issue, 2018/2019
Williams, Melinda; Eco Home; Smart Ideas for Sustainable NZ Homes, 2018 (George House & Gardner House)
Slope & Style, Issue 01_USA & NZ, studio overview and interview
Passive House + (Ireland), Issue 18 2017_International Selection (George House), pp28-29
Sanctuary magazine_Modern Green Homes (Australia), Issue 37 Summer 2016/17_Passive Pioneer (George House), pp24-29
Metropolis Magazine (New York), July 2016, Featured in Point-of-view ‘6 Passive Houses from around the World’
Walsh, J & Reyolds, P. Big House Small House. New Zealand: Random House, 2012, pp 300-305 (Mt Gold House, Wanaka)
Devitt, S & Stevens, A. Summer Houses. New Zealand: Penguin Books, 2011, pp 200-205 (Ian Louise House, Owhiro Bay)
Houses NZ, issue 21, 2011_Mt Gold House
Gourmet Traveller, February 2011, pp70-75,_Rippon Hall
Timberdesign Australasia_2007_DAC project
Home & Entertaining, OCT/NOV 2005_Ian Louise House
Houses NZ, issue 01 (on cover), 2006_Ian Louise House
Architecture NZ_2002_Lower Shotover House