Te Hikoi [Te reo / Maori / Aotearoa]

2. (noun) step, march, hike, trek, tramp, trip, journey, stepping

Following a 30 year career in commercial photography, I began my formal journey to architecture in 2004, when I enrolled the Bachelor of Architecture degree program at Unitec in Auckland.

An excerpt from my application letter to Unitec School of Architecture reads:

“If asked what I would like to achieve in architecture, then eco-friendly buildings and low-cost housing would be priorities.

I would like to design buildings that are simple, functional and are both sensitive and responsive to their environment.

Beautiful buildings.” 

I titled my first project “Te Hikoi”.

My mission was to find “a better way”.

Some 20 years later this remains both my vision and my mission.