Renowned for their innovative and modern designs, Smith Architects is an award-winning practice that over the last two decades has paved the way for buildings that integrate beautiful human spaces with sustainability.
One of the most poignant pieces of advice Phil Smith, founder and director of Smith Architects, was ever given, was that in order for architects to design buildings for people, they need to first understand humans. The idea being, that you need to know exactly what humans need and want in order to design something that they will benefit from, and which will improve their lives. This notion has been the driving factor behind all of Phil’s projects ranging from refurbishments to new builds; from domestic scale to urban master plans. His experience covers a broad range of typologies – masterplans, mixed-use schemes, residential, offices, cultural, educational, healthcare, and childcare.
“When we talk about sustainability,” says Phil, “we are more focused on sustainability from a health perspective than saving energy or reducing carbon footprints. Sure, they’re very important also, but I feel like it’s missing the point to focus only on those. What architecture should really be about is human wellbeing – the people that inhabit the buildings are the ones that should matter the most. What is best for them? If it’s good enough for a person, then it will be good for the environment also – the two go together.”
This belief inspired Phil to establish Smith Architects in 2007, with his wife Tiffany. The couple had emigrated from England the year prior in search of a more sustainable life. “At the heart of
what we do is our desire to understand what makes something beautiful. If we can create beauty in our designs, we believe our creations will endure, making them truly sustainable.” says Phil.
A chartered accountant by trade, Tiffany is also passionate about understanding the influence of the built environment on our wellbeing and development – having completed a Master of Philosophy in Science, researching how well their buildings support wellbeing. Likewise, the entire team at Smith Architects are employed on the premise that they all care deeply about the human aspect of a finished design.
“There’s a lot to consider when designing a building that has the inhabitant’s best interest in mind,” says Phil. “You need to look at letting the right amount of sunlight in, as it has been scientifically proven that we all need a certain amount each day, whether on your skin or absorbed through your eyes. You also need to see a certain amount of greenery every day, along with good ventilation and insulation. A house needs to be comfortable – there’s a careful balance to get it just right. And of course, there are the materials you use.”
In 2009 Phil was appointed as a technical adviser for NZGBC, leading the team who created New Zealand’s first Green Star Education rating tool. In 2019 he became a qualified NZGBC Homestar practitioner and in 2021 he was invited to join the NZGBC Advisory Board.
With the health of the inhabitants at the forefront of Phil’s design process, it has not been by accident that he has become the leader in designing early childcare education buildings – not just here in New Zealand, but also abroad in Australia, England and Abu Dhabi. To date, Smith Architects has designed over 100 early childhood centres, winning 36 international and national awards.
His striking and innovative design for the Te Mirumiru Early Childhood Centre in Kawakawa received 11 international and national awards alone, culminating in 2014 with the World Green Building Council’s Leadership in Sustainable Design Award – the only building in the whole of the Asia Pacific region to receive such a title. Designed for a Māori iwi, the brief called for a building which would not only accommodate the children, but also teach them about their culture and customs on a daily basis while having a minimal impact on the environment.
While designing childcare centres has carved a niche for Smith Architects over the last decade, the team are also highly sought after for bespoke residential houses. “For Tiffany and I, what’s always been important is looking at evolutionary psychology – what is it that humans need? Anyone can design a building, but the thing that makes an architecturally-designed building different is that it has meaning for people. Why do we all go on holiday? Why do we flock to sunny resorts in winter? It’s these kind of questions that get me thinking. You know, why wouldn’t we want our house to feel like a resort? If we could all live in an environment like that 24/7, I’m sure we would all be a lot happier. So it’s with that kind of thought process that I design from. I want people to love where they live, play or work and be healthier for it also.”
