About First Principles Architects & Interiors

FIRST PRINCIPLES Architects and Interiors strive to consistently achieve the best design solution for all our Clients.

Our Philosophy is to ‘Design from First Principles’.

We are socially responsible and understand that all designs have an impact on people’s lives. Through a collaborative team approach, we design for the needs of the people, both material and spiritual. Our Architecture, when embraced as Art, is both culturally respectful and environmentally sensitive. We value building strong relationships with our clients and are always mindful of their operational needs, financial criteria and timelines.

Innovative design opens our eyes to the best and most appropriate technologies, together with an appreciation of colour, texture and light to create dynamic spaces and form.

We believe that architecture should adopt passive building performance elements and a low energy footprint, resulting in meaningful design that seamlessly integrates into any natural site or the urban fabric.

Our design approach is one of simplicity, efficiency and legibility.

Background

FIRST PRINCIPLES Architects and Interiors are a Tauranga based practice. The practice was established at the beginning of 2013 by the Founding Director Graham Price together with his wife Kate Price is also a co-owner, partner and Interior Designer.

Graham and Kate’s vision was to create a bespoke design studio in the Bay of Plenty, specializing in Commercial, Retail, Mixed Use, Hospitality, Urban design and multi-residential architecture. This career direction was based on 30 years of experience in at least 4 countries, including the UK, Africa, New Zealand and the Pacific, designing and building many projects for clients such as owner-occupiers, developers, and the public sector.

We now concentrate on working with our clients in New Zealand throughout the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato. However, we have resources to provide architectural services wherever our clients would like us to partner with them. Graham has worked extensively throughout the Pacific and designs exclusive projects in the Islands.

Methodology

FIRST PRINCIPLES ARCHITECTS is grounded on Graham’s own personality and approach to people and architecture. We will always strive to follow these beliefs throughout the whole Team.

To Listen
To understand the client’s needs and vision
To explore and share the journey with the client
Define a concise clear brief
Analyse the site both natural and urban
Appreciation of the environment
Creation of places for people
Future and current market demand
Maximizing development potential and growth
Designing to a realistic budget
Research and development
Longevity and maintenance
Uniqueness and identity
Experiencing national and international architecture
Sustainable low energy design
High quality material sand construction
Innovation and creativity
Architectural excellence and human scale

Awards

First Principles Architects were the proud recipients of 3 awards at the recent New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards ceremony in Taupo.

Judges Comments:

Mangatawa Tari:

Standing alone in the foothills of the Papamoa Range, this beacon on a hill is sited to capture expansive views. It is also firmly grounded, anchored not just to site but to iwi via a narrative of three whales, Kopukairoa, Mangatawa and Hikurangi – the inspiration for the design concept. Taking the idea of a whale’s tail as a generator for the plan and roof structure, the architects have created a piece of work that is functional, culturally fitting and strongly connected to a special site.

Tauranga Intermediate:

This is a good example of a well-planned modern learning environment with a variety of spaces suitable for different pedagogies. In plan, the school’s three interconnecting learning ‘pods’ radiate out from a shared amphitheatre. The architects have considered connections to environment as well to classmates. The central circulation links the pods to a covered courtyard, essential shelter in sunny Tauranga. Refreshing yet calm, the environment created on a modest budget is impressive.

Winner: Tauranga Intermediate - Education Award Winner

Winner: Tauranga Intermediate - Resene Colour Award Winner

Winner: Mangatawa Tari - Commercial Architecture Award Winner

Shortlisted: Mount Central - Commercial Architecture Shortlisted

Services

Commercial ProjectsIndustrial ProjectsInterior DesignMasterplanningResidential Projects