Jeff Brickell Architects

About

Jeff Brickell Architects is a small, design focussed, architecture practice based in Whangarei. We offer dedicated personal service and high levels of accountability. Keeping overheads low means we offer excellent value. We have a local focus which allows us to foster collaborative relationships with other building professionals in Northland. We aim to craft buildings that relate to their environment and make people feel good.

Environmental Design

Above all we believe architecture needs to provide a healthy, comfortable place in which to live our lives. It needs to respond to its climate and be adaptable to suit the seasons. It needs to be as sustainable as possible and energy efficient. We utilise passive solar design principles in our buildings to provide natural light, warmth, cooling and ventilation. We aim to provide a range of outdoor spaces associated with the building to suit different times of day and year.

Quality Design

We recognise that people’s needs and values are often the same thing. We design architecture to meet people’s unique needs and to reflect their values. We aim for innovative, clever design solutions. Our design solutions provide cost effective architecture that is both practical and beautiful.

Site Specific Design

We use detailed site analysis to identify the unique set of opportunities that each site presents. Sun, wind, views, privacy and topography are all thoroughly considered to unlock the potential of the site. Often design concepts are derived from this relationship to site. We aim to design architecture that enhances people’s connection to their site and surrounding environment.

Jeff Brickell

Testimonials

"We contacted Jeff Brickell when we became stuck trying to plan our renovation. He came and visited us and we were extremely impressed how he listened and understood what we were trying to achieve. When we next met he laid out his vision and we were delighted with his design. Now finished, the light and warmth achieved in the house has exceeded our expectations. We found Jeff great to work with and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him."

Rick & Heather Matthews

“Jeff was a pleasure to work with from start to finish. His ease in translating what we wanted and needed for our house made the whole experience an enjoyable smooth process. We couldn’t be more pleased with the aesthetics of his design which ticked all the boxes from the layout to the finishing materials.”

Doug Pearson & Orshi Bulla (Mangrove House)

“Jeff was key to delivering our life long dream. 909 Matapouri Road was a challenging site to say the least. A former quarry with boundary restrictions on all sides including a DOC reserve, river esplanade and foreshore. We first met Jeff on site, seated around a plastic table outside our modest caravan. We talked about our vision. Jeff took our thoughts and ideas, added his own and shaped a final design. As well as Jeff's architectural abilities he managed the resource and building consent process without a hitch. Since our house has been completed we have had a steady stream of people stopping, admiring and photographing our home. A real testament to what Jeff delivered for our family. We could not be happier.”

Simone & Wally Thomas (Quarry Beach House)

"We initially found Jeff through a web search. We liked his previous residential work, and found him from the start to be highly professional and very easy to work with. Our design brief was simple - we were seeking a 4 bedroom home designed with good passive solar principles, with the ability to have separate areas for a growing family. And of course, within a budget. Jeff was able to bring together these elements along with site specific characteristics into a design that we liked and felt would work for us. He was upfront with us regarding our budget, he was able to suggest and incorporate a range of features that met the brief, looked great, and also met the budget. He wasn't afraid to challenge us and provide us with suggestions and recommendations, but he always did so with respect. We always felt part of the process. We have ended up with a house that we love, has great passive solar features, performs ideally for the Northland climate we live in, and was built to budget. We highly recommend Jeff and Jeff Brickell Architects, and wouldn't hesitate in using them again."

Nigel & Leah Mather (Passive Solar House)

"Jeff was the architect on an extensive renovation on our holiday home on the Tutukaka coast. We had regular meetings with Jeff, both in his office and on site. He was always approachable, helpful and very easy to deal with. He more than fulfilled the brief and vision we had for the property and we have been extremely happy with the end result. A wonderful family sanctuary."

Phil & Karla Jones

“Working with Jeff was a pleasure – he immediately picked up on the concept we wanted and worked with us to develop the ideas into drawings and specifications. Like all projects there were some challenges but Jeff was responsive to early indications of cost pressure and we were able to achieve the outcome we wanted within our budget."

Chris & Catherine Ellis

“Having embarked on the search for the right architect, meeting Jeff was like a breath of fresh air. We stood on the site where I planned to build and he asked me all about how I saw myself living in the space. In his quiet, thoughtful way he was clocking exactly what I envisaged for my future lifestyle and the functionality of the build started to be moulded to fit my needs. I had a basic floor plan in mind and a lot of very exacting ideas. Jeff respected everything that I threw at him, considered all the ramifications and financial implications and over the months to come, with me back in England and Jeff in Whangarei, he maintained the most thorough of dialogues, updating me regularly and always alerting me to anything I might not have considered. Jeff is the consummate professional. He has immense creative flair and is keen to fuse architectural genres. In addition, he is a thoroughly decent man who has a genuine interest in doing the best for his clients. I could not recommend Jeff more highly.”

Kay Budd-fletcher

“We lived in Wellington for many years and decided to move north for business and family reasons. We purchased land on the hill near Waipu Cove in 2015, and decided we should seek a local architect who had an affinity with the area. After a thorough search online, we selected Jeff Brickell to design us a contemporary, very relaxed home with views of Bream Bay and the surrounding countryside. We have been involved in design for over 30 years, so we knew what sort of home we wanted, but we needed an architect to place it in the right place on the section and integrate the building with the landscape. Our home is built in three parts – living , dining & kitchen; a separate wing for us, and an apartment for family and friends – all connected by decks. Working with Jeff was a pleasure – he cheerfully accepted that we had fairly well developed ideas of our own about the look and feel of the house, and he worked extremely well with us to achieve an end result we are very happy with. He also went the extra mile to make sure the house was built in exactly the right spot on our land to achieve the best sea view. We have no hesitation in recommending Jeff and would be happy to discuss our project with any potential client.”

Claire Drake & John Isles

"Jeff has an amazing ability to listen to how we lived, what we wanted from the home and the look we wanted. We wanted a modern farm house and Jeff delivered on every aspect. He incorporated all the requests we made and was very easy to work with. Follow up is great and we have no hesitation in recommending Jeff to design your next home."

Jo & Geoff Crawford

"Jeff designed a beach house which meets and exceeds all the requirements of the brief. Others in the small beachside community are pleased with the way the house sits in the bay, and clever design features enable everyone from young families, teenagers, to older friends to enjoy their stay. (Yet feels the perfect size when I am alone.) The sloping site and proximity to the coast added challenges however the necessary consents were obtained quickly as a result of Jeff's careful preparation, and network of good consultants. He used his knowledge of the area and local weather patterns to ensure there are outdoor areas to enjoy throughout the year, with comfortable temperatures and ventilation when indoors - and included a view from every room. I am very happy with the result! His excellent listening and communication skills, combined with quiet efficiency and an easy friendly manner made the whole project enjoyable and stress free (even through the restrictions of a pandemic!). I would definitely work with him again, and recommend him 100%."

Barbara Fowler

We would highly recommend Jeff as an architect. He listened to our needs and wants and created a vision for us. Passionate about his work, willingness to bring new and exciting ideas to life and a high level of communication and support. He has been with us right throughout our build and we could not be happier with the end product.

Tracey & Richard Smales

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.