Where to start
Understanding you, your site and your goals.
Every project begins with a dive into what matters most: outcomes, constraints, commercial targets, and any unique project drivers.
Being open early means we can test realistic scenarios and drive you toward the most effective solution.
You choose a direction knowing why it’s right - not with guesswork.
Why Gel
Gel Architects are a strong choice if you value a design team that blends creativity with practical expertise, offering tailored solutions for residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects across Auckland, Northland, and Waikato. We emphasise collaboration, accessibility, and a client-focused process, making them well-suited for experienced developers, builders and home owners.
At Gel, we are acutely aware that your success is our success; we are here to ensure you unlock possibilities and realise the full potential of your project.
Brief and Budget
We begin by understanding you, your objectives, budget and performance requirements for the finished building. Clear outcomes and honest budget parameters allow us to think strategically on your behalf and deliver the strongest possible result.
Our proposals outline the agreed scope, a preliminary programme and the associated design fees.
Pre-Design & Feasibility Testing
Before sketches, we gather the essential information: property files, measurements, topography, geotechnical data, planning rules. This is the stage where we map constraints - and opportunities - with clarity.
Early Options: Compare Before You Commit
We explore multiple workable pathways, not just one. These may vary in density, massing, cost, compliance approach, or layout strategy. We filter them with you based on:
Design feasibility
Commercial performance
Buildability
Risk reduction
Preliminary Design
Once a preferred option emerges, we develop concept sketches, site plans, and early visuals that reflect the chosen strategy. We’ll present you with sketches and drawings, with examples of how we envisage the finished design looking.
We might provide you with more than one idea to choose from.
At the end of this stage we’ll confirm the overall design with you and start working on a more developed version of what you’ve seen to date.
The resource consent process, if required, will begin during this stage.
The focus remains on validating decisions, not jumping ahead.
Developed Design & Resource Consent
Here, the design becomes real. We resolve layout, structure, materials, and consultant inputs. We present you with clear drawings and explain cost, programme, and compliance implications, before moving to detailed design.
This is ideally the final opportunity to refine the design before it moves to the detailed design stage and we’ll make sure we have your signed approval before we do that.
A resource consent is typically required when there is impact on either the natural or the built environment that has been identified by the local authorities within their plans.
Detailed Design & Building Consent
We now create "working drawings" to document the project with precision so pricing is accurate and construction variation is minimised.
Our detail‑rich documentation gives contractors confidence and reduces unexpected issues.
We’ll prepare the documentation required by council, lodge the application and and liaise with council throughout.
Procurement
If you choose to find your building team through a tendering process, we can manage a competitive tender process, preparing documentation, coordinating site visits and responding to contractor queries.
Alternatively, if you have a preferred builder or require recommendations, we can advise based on our industry experience.
Contract Administration
There is no person more suited to managing the construction process than your architect. We'll manage contractor queries, and act as your advocate during construction - ensuring everything built aligns with the decisions made at the outset.
At practical completion, we issue certification, manage defect resolution and oversee final payment, formally closing out the project.