The Team
Rob Vorstermans
I completed my studies in Architecture at Victoria University in Wellington in 1982. Gained a Bachelor of Architecture with Honors in 1983. Following work experience in Wellington obtained registration as an architect in 1985.
My special fields of competence are in architectural restoration/refurbishment work (both residential and commercial), architectural design, documentation and administration of alterations to or new residential and commercial buildings. Feasibility studies for: group-housing schemes, comprehensive land developments, industrial and commercial developments. Interior office fit-out work. Project management of building contracts.
R L Vorstermans has had twenty two years of experience working within New Zealand.
Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor was born and lived in the Netherlands for 18 years, studied Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art – Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh Scotland, graduating with Architecture BA Hons and Post Graduate Diploma. Chris has been working at Vorstermans Architects since 2005, and is working towards registering as Architect in New Zealand.Chris enjoys building good relationships with the project team: during the design process working with the client on their project, and then with consultants and contractors involved to deliver the project, which hopefully exceeds the clients expectations when complete.
Chris is passionate about design, ESD (Environmentally Sustainable Design) – or without the label, good, sensible design with interests in site responsive buildings, with clear design intent that highlight how the building and its occupants fit into the wider environment. “Good” design can be applied to every project of any scale and budget, and can positively improve and create interesting, efficient, healthy spaces for the occupants.
Jim Saunders
Jim has a Diploma in Architectural Technology from Massey and is the draftsman on the Vorstermans Team. He is also a resource management planner and worked for New Plymouth and Wellington City Councils, so is on hand should tricky District Plan issues arise. Over the last five years he has built up expertise on ArchiCAD 3D BIM computer software. “The quality of the computer modelling has really improved over this time, the bonus of using digital modelling is the software provides a live virtual image of the proposed projects as they develop. This allows data from the virtual model to be not only presented to the clients through out the design process but also allows the model to be represented in working drawings making changes quick and accurate over a full set of drawings”. While he appreciates the clean look of the Modern Movement, Jim’s interest is in older houses and buildings. Previous employment with the NZ Historic Places Trust enabled him to view many heritage places in New Zealand discovering the challenges of re-use and restoration.
Anna Windsor
Growing up in Wellington has given me a real love for this city and it’s architecture. I studied at Victoria University, graduating with a BArch(Hons), and have since had six years experience in the industry. Recently I successfully completed my registration as an Architect.
I enjoy every aspect of architecture, from design right through to construction, and feel privileged to be part of the process of helping people’s dreams become a reality. To me, architecture is very much a team effort, and everyone from the client to the contractor has an important part to play, each adding their own vision and expertise to the project. Working as an architect brings a new challenge every day, and I hope to continue being challenged, surprised and inspired by the process well into the future.
Stephen Geuze
Stephen is the newest member to the Vorstermans Team. Stephen has recently completed his Bachelor of Architectural Studies and Professional Masters of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington 2011.
Stephen has a passion for psychiatric design completing his thesis on “psychiatric rehabilitation in New Zealand communities”. This engaged Stephen in a great deal of research into the urban and building environments of community based psychiatric rehabilitation facilities within the Wellington Region resulting in a thesis that challenged the location and nature of these built facilities. While Stephen is passionate in this particular field, this interest is not exclusive; rather this passion evolves from the rigor of designing architecture for the purpose of its users and the opportunities that arise to heighten our experience of the built environment.
Jeni Fearnley
Jeni joined us last year as Interior Designer for the practice. Jeni is originally from the UK, which is where she studied and worked until moving to New Zealand 6 years ago. ‘Having worked in the UK for a number of years on predominantly historic, listed and older buildings my early experience was with renovating these. Moving to New Zealand presented me with the opportunity to work on newer buildings and buildings of a variety of styles. I enjoy all aspects of a project from the initial contact with clients and gaining and understanding of what they want, to presenting schemes and running the projects to completion. It is a pleasure and a joy to be able to realise peoples visions and dreams of their projects and to be a part of the process’.
Contact Details
phone 04-384 8395
email rob@architecture.gen.nz
web www.architecture.gen.nz
Street address 47 Cuba St, Wellington
postal address PO Box 11083, Wellington