by Nick Oscilowski | Oct 27, 2026 | Uncategorised
As architects, we typically improve a handful of homes a year. But change the rules behind them and you improve every timber house built in New Zealand. That’s the opportunity Duncan has just stepped into, joining the panel of experts reviewing NZS 3604 requirements....
by Nick Oscilowski | Oct 26, 2026 | Uncategorised
In 2025, Martins Farmhouse in Fordell, a rural setting just outside Whanganui, was awarded a Western Architecture Award by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA). This small farmhouse stood out in the housing category for its Passivhaus design...
by Nick Oscilowski | Oct 21, 2026 | Uncategorised
Ahead of the 2026 New Zealand general election, Black Pine invited all candidates standing in our home electorate of Whanganui to answer three quick questions exploring the role of architecture in our region. Responses were received from the Labour Party’s...
by Nick Oscilowski | Oct 8, 2026 | Uncategorised
How do you design a design festival? It’s a question Sam Ryan has been wrestling with for much of this year. As Festival Director of the inaugural Festival of Design Aotearoa, it’s been his job to led a small team shaping a brand-new national event from...
by Nick Oscilowski | Sep 23, 2026 | Uncategorised
For the first time in 15 years, the rulebook around the design and construction of light timber-framed buildings in New Zealand is in line for an update. It’s called NZS 3604, which is a pretty dull name for something with such big implications. These standards...
