New Zealand’s best architectural builders revealed

We’ve curated the definitive guide to New Zealand’s finest builders of residential architecture; those who work closely with architects to deliver homes of bold creative visions and incredible complexity.

From meticulous heritage renovations to contemporary clifftop statements and everything in between, these are homes that push the boundaries. They are designs that dare to be different, delivered with impeccable skill by the best in their profession.

The Build Edit is a celebration of excellence; of craft, skill, collaboration, and innovation. Read The Build Edit below to discover the best architectural builders in your region.

The Build Edit 2024 Directory

Northland

Waikato

Bay of Plenty

Hawke’s Bay

Nelson/Marlborough

Wellington

Canterbury

Otago

Latest video features

In the Coromandel, a home with a humble profile and a thoughtful design makes the most of a stunning location.

Built with awe-inspiring attention to detail, this Arrowtown home is a fresh interpretation of a familiar Otago rural vernacular.

This sculptural Northland bach is a perfect north arrow on a remote farm high above the sea.

With the sun on its bow and the community at its stern, this is a house in which the elements are always front of mind.

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Home of the Decade (2015—2025) winning firm RTA Studio has refined a Southern language of gables and barn-like forms into a coveted residential style that

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An urban treehouse in the heart of Auckland, this project reimagines how architecture can engage with nature in a dense urban setting.

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Rural Home of the Year 2026

Tucked into the expansive alpine landscape outside Arrowtown, this home takes its cues from the rugged vernacular of Central Otago, sharpened with a distinctly contemporary