Alki is a Chinook word from North America that connects us to our future. This is exactly why Alki has planted itself in Architecture - to build something that will outlast ourselves, knowing it will inspire future generations and leave the planet and its resources behind to service those to come.
Alki’s Architecture moulds itself to the human experience, placing it as a facilitator to make change for the greater good. Taking its place as a house, a home, and therefore our habitat - curating our emotions, our sense of place and our habits. Defining what it means to be human, and how we connect to each other, our communities and our ecosystems.
The Concept process in an interactive back and forth with our client. Our designers tap into the potential and limitations of the site and its covenants, explore the narrative of the wider area and landscapes, overlay the essence of the projects brief, and curate a series of concept plans and volumes.
We review the concept plans with you and confirm feasibility from a planning perspective before extracting what makes each concept uniquely perfect, and understand in more detail what doesn’t compliment how you do life—unlocking a fusion of ideas that evolve to form a final concept design for Stage 2.
We are a design focused practice with a fundamental interest in collaborative design. Our strategy is an Integrated Design Process, where we engage with professional consultants early in the project.
After completion of Stage 1, the finalised Concept Design is developed to form a set of preliminary consultant issue drawings and resource consent documents (if required). These are suitable to collaborate with experts in the field of engineering and construction. We distill data from a combination of skills to form beautiful, well-crafted spaces responding to their site. At the end of Stage 2, we have a set of documents that go on to form the basis of Stage 3.
What we consider the nitty gritty of your journey with us. More refined coordination between consultants start to take place and the finer details of your project are developed. Stage 6 (Interior and Landscape Design Consultancy) can be introduced to resolve a holistic architectural response to the project brief and to the site.
Detailed construction drawings, specification booklets, energy calculations and contract documentation for building consent are prepared and lodged. Once building consent has been issued, the project moves into Procurement/Construction Phase. Stages 1-3 encompass our core services, and so our involvement in your design journey concludes here. However, if you wish to continue your journey with us, join us in Stages 4-6.
Once building consent has been issued, we produce tender documentation that will be issued to pre-qualified contractors who have been invited to participate in tender. We offer assistance in builder introductions, closed tender or negotiated contracts, and working with the selected contractor on behalf of the client.
During Contract Administration, we observe conformity to the building contract documents and well as the quality of the work.
Frequent meetings and communication with the main contractor allows us to manage and asses contractual and financial transactions during the construction of your building.
Often this includes periodic site visits, responding to Requests for Information (RFI’s), issuing Architectural Supplementary Information (ASI’s), assessing progress claims, issuing progress certificates, and managing variations to cost and time.
Alki believes there is beauty to be found everywhere in this world. Architecture, is just framing whats already there.
Architecture is the maestro between interiors and exteriors. When all three elements dance in perfect harmony, borders fall and we find ourselves in perfect flow with the essence of life. It is for this reason, holistic design elevates good design, to great design. We tailor our engagement with you personally, for you to unveil the full value of your project and our expertise.
One of our core principles is the that our client is central to what we do—nailing a clients brief is fundamental to a good design outcome.What we do is fuelled by passion and respect, it comes very natural for us to really understand our client and build a relationship. We invest in building trust, ensuring clear and accessible communication the whole way through—to be the voice that advocates for our clients best interest.
Empathy and Ergonomics are pillars of architecture, understanding human emotion and habit—how space can support or challenge the moments in our day that weave into the world around us, and how art can be used as a way to communicate emotion with the ultimate goal of uniting humanity.
We’ve developed a natural intuition for making spaces feel extraordinary, but that’s only half of what makes our projects successful—we believe designing high performing buildings backed by science is critical for the building industries evolution. According to the United Nations, the building and construction sector is by far the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for 37% of global emissions. Placing Architecture as a pivotal player to make real change in a finite world.
Warm, healthy, dry homes should be a basic human right, where education and awareness is accessible for all without exposure to ‘greenwashing’. Alki Design is dedicated for architecture to become a beacon of both style and performance.
Art and Architecture are not far away from nature. Constructed of nature, to exist for a lifetime within nature. We don’t stop our design with Sun + Place, but continue deeper to design with wind, rain, fire, soil tannins + pressures, trees, stone, shadows, water, reflection, smell and sound. Introducing natures timeless style and patience to our own senses—intricately intertwining People and Planet to create magic, music, and art.
The Planet, with Architecture, becomes alive with beauty—respected with Performance, loved by People, and shared with Poetry.
We focus a lot of our energy on the sequence of spaces; what is it like to move through a space and how does the experience unfold? There is art to be found in the mundane of discipline, and creativity is born in moments of constraint.
At Alki Design, we have a passion for design and how it perfectly connects two seemingly distant domains—the insolubility of philosophy and the conviction of science. There is no contradiction to say that artistic technique is discipline in spontaneity and spontaneity in discipline. In between these two extremes, we uncover holistic design—shaping our plans so that the flow through the space is both functional and evocative.
Charlotte studied Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington and Washington State University, graduating with honors in 2015. After several years of experience in notable Architecture firms in North America known for residential and sustainable design, Charlotte founded Alki Design in 2020. Bringing home to Wanaka curiosities about the world, international standards of design, building science (performance) and construction.
Charlotte is passionate about graceful, contextual, timeless architecture that elevates the everyday; bringing beauty, moments of joy and a sense of connection to the natural world and to the people she engages with. She loves the creative process and has a deep tactile appreciation for the environment, its materials, and its ecological systems.
As an ADNZ (Architectural Designers of New Zealand) and AIA (American Institute of Architects) registered practice, our services follow national and international guidelines.
We engage in renovation, restoration, master planning or new construction projects for local, regional and international clients.
The world has never been more connected by online tools, removing boarders and timezones. It will always be the in-person interactions that fuels our fire most, so let us connect over a hot drink in your favourite coffee shop. Wherever that maybe. Wanaka, Queenstown, Central Otago region (Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Mackenzie region (Twizel, Ohau), North Otago (Oamaru, Timaru), Christchurch, Dunedin, Catlins and Southland are our favourite cafe locations. If your project is located further afield, we welcome you to Page Us.
We prepare Resource Consent and Building Consent Applications in new or existing subdivisions and developments.
Working closely with professionals such as Planners, Landscape Architects and members of Council, we create the right team to advocate for your project.
If it’s just showing us your mood board over a coffee, or if you wish to engage with us to curate highly detailed set of technical interior drawings with full coordination and execution among contractors, manufacturers and suppliers.
We can tailor our engagement with your project and your team to strengthen the connection between architecture and its borders - framing interiors and exteriors in perfect harmony.
The Passive House standard is a European building standard backed by rigorous building science and over 30 years of evidence from tens of thousands of buildings around the world. As a member of PHINZ (Passive
House Institute New Zealand) and as a Certified Passive House Designer, we provide energy modelling for your project that quantifies highly considered detailing and design decisions supported by years of specialist training.
Homestar is New Zealand’s leading holistic sustainability certification for new home design and construction. As a member of both NZGBC (New Zealand Green Building Council) and USGBC (United States Green Building Council); and as a registered Homestar Designer and Assessor, Alki can collaborate with you early and entirely in house to streamline your application for a Homestar Rating.
Homestar Ratings can help open your build to banks sustainable finance offers and other financial incentives, extending the benefits beyond a healthy home and towards a healthy pocket.
Alki Design offers personalised architectural sketches and artistic visualisations, elevating each project into a unique expression of creativity.
At Alki Design, we go beyond architecture—we turn ideas into art, delivering clients a unique and emotive experience where every sketch and render is an authentic reflection of their creative vision.
