JOURNAL

A Registered Architect brings structure, judgement, and reassurance to the design process. This article explains what NZRAB registration means in New Zealand, why it matters for homeowners, and how Lloyd Hartley’s registered team supports ambitious, achievable residential projects.

A good brief is only half room counts and budgets. The half we love starts once the spreadsheet's closed and the coffee's poured, when we stop talking about the house and tune in to the people who'll actually live in it.

Ben Lloyd and Mike Hartley discuss their practice goals of being in the moment, prioritising the tactile elements of their designs and making architecture that gives its inhabitants a warm cuddle.

Lloyd Hartley are not whizz-bang architects. We love to craft. To iterate. And to resolve.

Partly, this is self-preservation — not wanting to be called out by builders on site in front of clients. Partly, this is a product of our humble beginnings as a practice — trying to find the meat in small hand-me-down projects and deck extensions.

Architect Ben Lloyd loves great stories just as much as he loves great design, and that intersection is at the heart of everything he does at Lloyd Hartley. His approach is all about creating spaces that feel personal, thoughtful, and beautifully crafted.

In this interview, Ben speaks with us about his design philosophy, where he sees the industry heading, and the projects currently keeping him busy.

Lloyd Hartley co-founder and director Mike Hartley is flamboyant, engaging and full of energy. It’s not surprising that his architecture, interiors and project management practice celebrates positive human interactions.

Tucked at the northern end of Omaha Beach, Sandtrap is a sculptural home that draws its identity from the very landscape it inhabits – sand, sea, and the ever-shifting light of the coast.

Photos David Straight

Thoughtful architecture in challenging spaces

Speak to an architect about what the most important consideration is in the design of a home, and they’ll often give you the same answer. Light. Whether it’s creating a warm pocket of sunshine for winter breakfasts or basking your living room in a sultry sunset glow, natural light can completely change the atmosphere of a room.

Light is one of the few aspects of a home that is immutable; we can’t bend it to our will, only do our best to capture it within our design. And at Lloyd Hartley, one of the most rewarding ways we do this is with a skylight.