Studio Pacific was established in Wellington in 1992 by the three directors: Nicholas Barratt-Boyes, B. Arch, ANZIA, RIBA; Stephen McDougall, B.B.Sc, B.Arch, FNZIA; and Evzen Novak, B. Arch (Hons), ANZIA, RIBA. Prior to establishing the Studio, all three directors studied and/or worked together in New Zealand before working for a period in Europe: Evzen studied in Berlin and worked in Switzerland and London, while Nick and Stephen were based in London and worked on projects throughout the U.K. and Europe.
The collective international experience gained by the directors in Europe set the platform and influenced the direction of the practice. From early design competitions and small residential commissions Studio Pacific has evolved into an award-winning substantial and creative practice with diverse projects throughout New Zealand. Particular recognition has been given to the studio for working with the arts, urban regeneration, housing, masterplanning and contemporary workspace planning.
Cross-disciplinary approach
Studio Pacific offers skills across the full range of architectural practice, including masterplanning, urban design, commercial buildings, cultural and community work, heritage work and specialist fitouts. We are sought after for our cross-disciplinary and holistic approach, in which we work from multiple perspectives to produce integrated design outcomes. For example, the Studio has a high level of expertise in urban design, which we bring to our architectural projects, seeking to understand our architectural interventions within a wider framework. With a portfolio comprising more than 70,000m2 of workspace environments as well as numerous retail and hotel interiors, we are able to apply our extensive skills in planning and designing interiors to ensure that buildings work seamlessly from the inside out as well as the outside in. Similarly, our experience in base building adds an important depth of knowledge to interior projects.
Leading creative edge and design philosophy
Studio Pacific’s design philosophy is based on several tenets that set us apart. We approach every project afresh, and we are actively looking for the unusual design solution or idea that can unlock the design direction. We are open-minded about possible design solutions and search for innovative, progressive and inventive means of achieving design results. We aim to be the most progressive architectural practice in New Zealand by constantly building on our ability to ‘think outside the square’.
We bring a strong intellectual underpinning to our work through the rigour of our design and critique process. Our creative edge has led to our success in national and international design competitions, and we have received over 70 national and international awards since the company was founded in 1992.
