Sketch Architecture

About

Sketch Architecture has offices in Auckland and Pauanui in the Coromandel. We work on projects throughout greater Auckland and urban and regional New Zealand providing personal and unique building designs for residential and commercial projects.

Sketch Architecture is not dictated by any particular style or fashion, rather responding to the requirements of each client and site, deriving inspiration from the individuality of each project. We are continually aware of budget and economical requirements of a building project. These inherent factors of a project are incorporated into the project by its outset.

We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the highest level of quality and customer relations along with the timely delivery of their projects. We maintain good communication channels with Building Consent Authorities and combined with the prompt delivery of highly documented plans we strive to provide resource consent and building consent approval times second to none.

We have documented over 400 residential and commercial remedial projects receiving architecture design awards along the way. We understand the due process involved to gain building consent approval and deal with all issues relating to a council notice to fix, MBIE Assessor's report and building surveyors remedial works reports. We enjoy nothing more than giving those dated monolithic clad homes a new and exciting aesthetic! By following the below link you can read about one of our award winning reclad projects featured in a Stuff article.

Our Services

Awards and recognition

2023

ADNZ

Regional Commended

Furneaux Way

Testimonials

Our brief was to work within the existing building envelope, but to achieve a dramatic transformation – modern but timeless, confident, strong and sound – while appreciating inevitable budget constraints. We have nothing but praise for the performance of Tony Pilkington of Sketch Architecture and the result delivered.
Tony is very professional, his attention to detail is great and he has a genuine appreciation of the finer points of design. We found him very efficient; delivering concepts, developed design, working drawings and the building consent to an agreed cost and time schedule. He also managed the competitive tender process for us.
Precise understanding of Auckland Council and current building code requirements ensured that the consent process went smoothly and quickly. His work appeared to us to be well-respected by Council officers.
While we did not require project supervision, Tony was always available during the 32-week job to visit the site or answer queries from us, or the main contractor. Where necessary any small amendments, or drawings for clarification, were supplied promptly by email.
We are thrilled with the outcome which delivered all we sought and even exceeded our initial expectations.

Kirsty and Robin Beckett

We were very impressed with Sketch Architecture from beginning to end. Tony interpreted our brief perfectly and we were thrilled with his knowledge of products. Also, Tony made the daunting consent process a breeze.
All drawings were manufactured promptly – likewise with emailed questions …all answered at lightning speed - alleviating any frustration.
On this particular build we relied heavily on our architect. Sketch delivered over and above the call of duty - always there. Not only consistently throughout our build (in never being made to feel uncomfortable to ask a question and seeing to it that we were ok and things were going per plan) but outstandingly also after completion - which speaks volumes about Tony’s integrity and the firm he heads
In summary, Tony cares, he is professional, energized, and totally client driven, needless to say I would have no hesitation in using Sketch Architecture again or recommending Sketch to anybody.

Janine Chow

We have been a client of Sketch Architecture Ltd over the past 18 months and have been involved with them in the complex task of progressing our leaky home project from the investigative stage, through the re-clad process, to the current legal and cost recovery stage.
The process has been extremely complex and difficult and in this regard believe we have been extremely fortunate to have had the services of Sketch Architecture. They have been involved from the beginning, from the concept and design phase through the planning and consent process to the building and final code of compliance stage. Since then they have continued to give support to our legal claims and providing complex data required by the Dept. of Building & Housing prior to proceeding with Conciliation and Arbitration.
At the outset Sketch were highly recommended by Re-Clad Builders. Their services and responsiveness have been truly remarkable – quick, positive, highly efficient and financially exactly as quoted. We have been entirely satisfied with the services provided and have been extremely grateful for their proactive support.
In conclusion, our weathertight project is looking encouraging and this could not have been achieved without the professionalism and full support that we have been given by Sketch Architecture.
We would be most happy to elaborate further should any prospective client require further information.

David & Juanita Marsden

Sketch Architecture became involved in the planning stages of what was our third building expansion at Pohutukawa Kindergarten. (We had previously altered and expanded a small two bedroom 1920’s cottage!) Tony met head-on the challenge of accepting what was in place and what had already been approved in the prior two stages, and he completed a fantastic set of plans for the final stage of our project development.
The plans were clear and complete and consent was readily obtained. One of the key things that we would emphasize in recommending Sketch to others is the ‘work alongside’ approach that Tony has. Problems do arise when clients are not listened to, and in our complex situation of prior development and Ministry of Education requirements, we needed to have a good grip on what and how the plans were drawn up. Tony was a pleasure to work with in that he always listened to what our needs were, and responded so quickly, often with better ideas and always with great solutions. He listened and we felt involved at every point.
We would thoroughly recommend that you talk to Tony about your next project, - and we are sure you will then want to follow through and use the expertise and efficiency at Sketch Architecture for your plans

Marilyn Appleton

We’ve been working together with the team at Sketch Architecture Ltd for a number of years now, and find Tony and his plans exceptionally easy to deal with.
I’ve been building for over 20 years and receive plans from a wide variety of architects around Auckland. From a builders perspective Sketch Architecture’s plans are some of the most detailed and usable plans we’ve dealt with. For our clients this means a smooth and faster build with an architect that is dedicated to giving you the perfect design. With Sketch we often find there is no need for extra clarification on details; they’re all provided. This makes the building process a breeze for us, the builder.
We have also used Tony to redesign our home in Half Moon Bay. He listened to our needs and provided us with our dream home. We recommend Tony and his team at Sketch to all our clients.

Phil Penney, Superior Construction Ltd

Tony successfully took my two townhouse extension, re-cladding and renovation projects through the resource consent process with no fuss, which allowed me to build up to the property boundary and over the height limits. The subsequent building consents went through easily. While I had some rather intricate design ideas, Tony advised me to keep it practical and simple. He was right. It looks great. Tony is a pragmatic down-to-earth architect, who does not promise unrealistic timescales, and instead delivers on time.

Keith Weale

Tony, it was a pleasure working with you on our house extension. The space you helped us create not only looks great but has given us the space and functional ability we were looking for with our growing family. We look forward to working with you on any future projects.

Rod & Suz De Spong