Asia-Pacific design practice DKO has appointed respected New Zealand architect Phill Matz as Studio Director of its Auckland office, marking a significant new chapter for the practice’s work in Aotearoa.
The move brings together the local knowledge and established relationships of MATZ Architects with DKO Architecture’s broader multidisciplinary capability across architecture, interiors, landscape architecture and urban design.
Existing MATZ Architects clients will continue to work directly with Matz, while gaining access to the specialist expertise and regional resources of the wider DKO team.
With almost three decades of experience in the New Zealand design sector, Matz brings an intimate understanding of the country’s architectural landscape and the importance of responding carefully to place.
His appointment reflects DKO Architecture’s ambition to grow its New Zealand presence through strong local leadership, while creating greater opportunities for collaboration between its studios across the Asia-Pacific region.
For DKO Architecture founder Koos de Keijzer, who was raised in Christchurch, the expansion is also grounded in a personal connection to New Zealand. It signals a long-term investment in the country’s design community and a belief that multidisciplinary scale is most valuable when paired with genuine regional insight.
The appointment arrives at a time when practices are increasingly working across geographic and disciplinary boundaries. By combining Matz’s local experience with DKO’s regional network, the Auckland studio will be positioned to undertake projects with a broader depth of expertise while retaining the contextual thinking and close client relationships that define strong architectural practice.
