Steven and Francesca van der Meer are directors of boutique architecture studio VDM Architects, based in Tairua, on the Coromandel Peninsula. Each brings years of experience to the table, with Steven primarily focusing on the residential sector while Francesca also has residential experience alongside a background in education work, with a particular emphasis on interior design.
VDM offers clients the full suite of architectural services. “We develop full house designs, including designing the entire house inside, all the cabinetry and all the material finishes,” Stephen says. “Operating where we do, we’ve been involved in some really wonderful projects, tucked away in inspiring locations.” The goal always is for a home to feel cohesive internally and externally and, given where VDM Architects is situated, often the work can be about redesigning existing beach dwellings, or building a new home on a much-loved family site.
“We do have a large proportion of clients in this region who are choosing to relocate and may be near, if not already retired. They’re often wanting a permanent home that will have the space for family and friends to stay,” Francesca says. The ratio of renovations/extensions to new builds sits at about 60:40, and the focus is very much on maximising potential. Conversations often begin with a thorough investigation to determine what the best course of action may be for any given site, particularly when there’s an existing dwelling. “We sit down and work with our clients through the pros and cons. We offer a bit of a feasibility study really, giving them options, very much briefed to the site and the budget.”
Carrying rich experiences gained from working not only here but also in Melbourne and London, the couple says their studio and the nature of the projects they take on provide plenty of scope for their professional skills to shine. “We enjoy nothing more than providing our clients with a bespoke architectural outcome, tailor-made for their unique situation. We find it very rewarding to work through all the design refinements to come up with the perfect solution, given their wants and needs,” says Steven.
Working from an understanding that every site is unique, full of potential and often challenges, with factors such as land stability coming into play, Steven and Francesca both agree that those early conversations to really gain a thorough understanding of the client’s situation are vital. “It’s about knowing how the house will be used. Are there children, will there often be visitors, what already exists on the site, these all factor into informing the beginning of the design.”
“We see the value in good architecture, and it is our responsibility to design houses that are resilient. For me, what we do is a privilege.”
VDM Architects’ services are divided into key areas: developing a schematic design from a very collaborative process, and understanding just how much clients want to be involved. From this engagement, preliminary concepts arise, and a process of steering the design toward what the client likes begins. “We then go through a series of meetings to really hone all aspects of the home. This takes as long as it will, though by this stage there’s an agreed sense as to direction,” says Francesca.
Finally, the couple produces all the construction documentation through various reports and consenting pathways. Both agree they have enjoyed working with many excellent builders, who have lived and worked in the Coromandel for decades. And although project numbers have eased somewhat this year due to broader global factors, there remains a strong pipeline of work ahead. “We’ve actually been very busy with enquiries coming through as spring gets closer.”
Having first met when they were studying architecture at Victoria University and now well and truly settled in a rather special part of New Zealand with their children, Francesca and Steven feel privileged to work on very engaging projects for great clients, many of whom they’ve known for some time. “We see the value in good architecture, and it is our responsibility to design houses that are resilient. For me, what we do is a privilege,” Francesca says.
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