The story behind ArchiPro and why we are taking into to America

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As ArchiPro launches in the United States, co-founder and CEO Milot Zeqiri reflects on where it all began, the people who have helped build the business and what comes next.

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A new beginning in New Zealand

In 1999, I arrived in New Zealand with my family as a refugee from Kosovo. I was sixteen years old, and after losing our home during the war, we found ourselves beginning our lives again in a country on the other side of the world, surrounded by unfamiliar places, people and a language I couldn't yet speak.

New Zealand gave my family the opportunity to rebuild our lives, and that is something I will always be grateful for. Looking back, I believe those early experiences shaped the way I see the world and gave me a deeper appreciation for the importance of having somewhere to belong. When you've experienced losing a home, you come to understand that its meaning extends far beyond the physical structure, encompassing the familiarity, security and memories that make a place feel like your own.

Years later, when Brittany and I were going through the experience of building and renovating, we began to understand just how difficult it could be for homeowners to discover the right architects, designers, builders and products. We would come across an extraordinary home in a magazine and wonder who designed it, or discover a beautiful material and struggle to find out where it came from.

At the same time, through my work in the industry, I was meeting exceptionally talented architects, designers and craftspeople whose work wasn't always receiving the recognition or exposure it deserved. I could see how much thought, creativity and expertise went into their projects, yet the connection between the people creating these remarkable spaces and those looking to build their own homes was often difficult to make.

Britt and I began imagining what it would look like to bring these worlds together, creating a place where someone could discover extraordinary architecture, understand the people behind it, explore the products and materials used, and connect with the professionals who could help bring their own ideas to life.

That was the beginning of ArchiPro in 2014.

Twelve years of building something we believe in

What began in our bedroom in New Zealand has grown into a platform connecting projects, professionals and products across New Zealand and Australia. Over the past twelve years, we've had the privilege of working with thousands of architects, designers, builders and brands, learning more about the industry and how people discover the places and products that inspire them.

One of the things I've come to appreciate most is how powerful great architecture can be in introducing people to the professionals responsible for creating it. When someone discovers a home they love, their curiosity naturally extends to the person who designed it. They want to understand the thinking behind the architecture, the approach to the landscape, the materials selected and the decisions that make the home so special.

Through those stories, people begin to develop a deeper appreciation for the expertise, creativity and care that goes into the work. For someone considering building or renovating, that understanding can help them develop their own ideas, recognise what matters most to them and find professionals whose approach reflects what they hope to create.

This belief has shaped much of what we've built at ArchiPro, from the way we present projects and professional portfolios to our editorial programmes and the stories we tell about the people behind extraordinary spaces. Along the way, we've had the opportunity to showcase remarkable homes, introduce talented professionals to new audiences and help people make more informed decisions about the places they want to create.

Three Pavilions by John Maniscalco Architecture

Our next chapter begins in America

On November 1, 2026, ArchiPro officially launched in the United States, opening a new chapter for our business and introducing our platform to one of the world's most influential architecture and design markets.

America is home to some of the world's most extraordinary architects, designers and creative minds, with an architectural landscape shaped by remarkable diversity, creativity and a rich history of design. From the coastal homes of California to the historic residences of New England and the contemporary architecture emerging across the country, there is an incredible depth of talent and knowledge that deserves to be discovered and celebrated.

Our ambition is to build a platform that represents this work beautifully, gives homeowners a deeper understanding of the people responsible for creating it, and makes it easier for meaningful connections to happen.

For someone planning to build a home, the process often begins long before they speak with an architect or designer. It might start with a home they've visited, an image they've seen or a particular space that makes them imagine what could be possible. We want ArchiPro to become part of that journey, helping people develop their ideas, discover the products and materials available to them, and connect with professionals who can bring those ideas to life.

The American launch also creates an opportunity to introduce more people around the world to the extraordinary architecture and design coming out of New Zealand and Australia. We already see American audiences discovering projects and products through our existing platforms, and as awareness of ArchiPro grows internationally, we hope to bring greater recognition to the professionals and brands whose work has helped establish our business.

There is something exciting about the possibility of someone in New York discovering a beautiful home in Auckland, or someone in California being inspired by a project in Melbourne, and being able to explore the people, ideas and products behind it.

A global platform, shaped by local architecture

As ArchiPro expands internationally, one of the things I feel most strongly about is preserving the character and relevance of each local market. Every country has its own architectural identity, building traditions, materials, landscapes and ways of living, and I believe those differences should be reflected in the way people discover architecture and design.

Someone building a home in Auckland should be able to discover exceptional architects, designers, builders and products relevant to New Zealand. Someone renovating in Melbourne should have the same experience with professionals and suppliers relevant to Australia, while someone building in Los Angeles should be able to explore the people and products appropriate to their market.

The more countries we enter, the more important this approach becomes. Our ambition is to become increasingly thoughtful and selective about the quality and relevance of the projects, professionals and products we represent, ensuring that every local ArchiPro platform reflects the architecture and design community it serves.

At the same time, connecting these markets through a globally recognised platform creates an opportunity for people to explore ideas from around the world, discover different approaches to design and appreciate the extraordinary work being created beyond their own borders.

I believe we can create something that is truly international in its reach, while remaining deeply connected to the local places, people and communities that make architecture so interesting.

The Chatham Residence, Guest House, Farm & Pond Pavilion by Desai Chia Architecture

Looking towards the future

As I look towards the future, I see ArchiPro becoming something far greater than the platform we originally imagined, particularly as the world around us enters another extraordinary period of technological change.

Artificial intelligence is already transforming how people discover information, communicate and make decisions, and I believe its potential to reshape the architecture, design and construction industries is enormous. For us, this represents an opportunity to rethink what is possible and explore how technology can make the experience of creating a home more informed, collaborative and accessible.

We're investing in new technology and developing a range of innovations that will make it easier for people to discover the right professionals, explore products, collaborate and navigate the process of creating a home. I imagine a future where someone can arrive at ArchiPro with the earliest idea of what they want to build and gradually develop that idea into a thoughtful brief, explore architecture that reflects their aspirations, understand the materials available and connect with professionals who can help them realise their vision.

There's a great deal in our development pipeline that I'm looking forward to sharing in the years ahead, and our ambition is to be at the forefront of this transformation.

Through all of this innovation, the expertise of architects and designers will remain central to everything we do. Technology can improve how people find information and connect with one another, but it's the knowledge, creativity and experience of talented professionals that ultimately shape the places where people live, raise their families and create memories.

Our ambition extends well beyond America. I want someone in New York, London, Milan or Tokyo to be able to discover extraordinary architecture and the people behind it with the same ease as someone in Auckland, and I want talented architects and designers, wherever they practise, to have the opportunity to share their work with people who appreciate it.

I believe there's an opportunity to create a truly global destination for architecture and design, and we're incredibly excited to be taking another step towards that vision.

A moment to reflect, and a future to look forward to

As we celebrate this milestone, I've found myself reflecting on the people who have been part of our journey, from Britt, who has built ArchiPro alongside me since the beginning, to our families, our team and the thousands of architects, designers, builders and brands who have supported us over the years.

There is something quite personal about reaching this moment. Twenty-seven years ago, I arrived in New Zealand with my family having lost our home, with little understanding of what our future would look like. Today, we've introduced a company we built in that same country to America, with an ambition to connect the people who create extraordinary homes around the world.

It's a journey I could never have imagined, and one that reminds me how much can change in a lifetime when people are given opportunities and others believe in what they're trying to create.

I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of ArchiPro's journey so far, and to those who are discovering us for the first time as we enter this new chapter. My hope is that ArchiPro will continue to help people discover places that inspire them, appreciate the people who create them and find the knowledge and expertise to create homes that will become part of their own stories.

Because ultimately, that's what this has always been about for me: the places we create and the lives that unfold within them.

Milot Zeqiri
Founder & CEO, ArchiPro

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