Commercial

The Cedar Box is a contemporary office addition designed to float above the ground floor of an existing redeveloped building. Conceived as a pure, restrained form, wrapped entirely in cedar, expressing warmth, texture, and material honesty. Its elevated position creates a clear visual separation between old and new, allowing the intervention to read as a lightweight object gently placed within the urban fabric. Defined by simplicity and clarity of form, The Cedar Box demonstrates how thoughtful design and minimal material expression can transform an existing structure into a refined workplace.

Eagars Funeral Services is a carefully considered building designed to support people through some of life’s most difficult moments. Guided by simplicity and restraint, the architecture creates an environment that is calm, natural, and deeply respectful. A palette of warm timbers and honest stone grounds the building in a sense of permanence, while generous natural light gently animates the interiors, connecting occupants to the passing of time and the rhythms of nature.

Water, planting, and expansive glazing are woven into the design, softening the building’s edges and blurring the boundary between inside and out. Thoughtfully planned private family rooms provide quiet refuge away from public spaces, while large overhangs offer shelter and welcome. The result is a serene, dignified place—an enduring gift to the community that offers comfort, compassion, and care when it is needed most.

The Currie Street C.C. Wards building is an enduring piece of New Plymouth’s commercial and architectural history. Designed by Messenger, Griffiths & Taylor and completed in 1925, this two-storey reinforced concrete structure is part of the historic C.C. Ward retail complex and is recognised as a Category A heritage building in the New Plymouth District Plan and by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. In July 2017 the building was sealed off due to structural concerns, including gravity column damage identified by council inspections, leaving the site unoccupied.

Our project responds with a sensitive heritage and renewal strategy, combining structural remediation with conservation-led design. Key architectural elements and the Currie Street façade are preserved, while the interior and rear are reimagined for contemporary use and life-safety compliance. The intervention balances historic value with functional adaptability, honouring the building’s original detailing and civic presence while re-establishing its relevance in New Plymouth’s evolving city centre.

This project involved the design of a new building for the Ebbett Motor Franchise in Rotorua, housing Volkswagen, MG Motors, Kia, and Skoda. While the original concept was developed by another team, VOID led the detailed design, coordination, and delivery of the project.

The new facility includes showrooms, offices, and workshops, providing a modern, functional space for multiple brands. A key focus was aligning each brand’s Corporate Identity (CI) within a cohesive architectural language, ensuring all brand standards were maintained. VOID also managed multi-disciplinary sub-consultants to achieve a seamless collaboration, resulting in a building that successfully balances operational efficiency with a strong, branded presence.

Bayley’s Offices, the previous Daily News Site was the first phase of a wider redevelopment of the former Daily News buildings, guided by a site master plan by VOID (formerly Jackson Architects). The project transformed the former printing machine hall—with its soaring ceilings—into open-plan offices, mezzanine levels, and auction rooms, carefully repurposing the existing structure.

The design embraces an industrial-chic aesthetic, celebrating exposed services and legacy artefacts while integrating modern functionality. An efficient conversion that honors the building’s history while supporting contemporary office use.

New Plymouth Government Offices is a 3,119 m² two-storey workplace designed to accommodate flexible shared spaces for multiple government agencies. Developed from a former industrial site on the CBD fringe, the project was delivered on a fast-track ECI basis, bringing together owner, contractor, and consultant teams to achieve efficiency and cohesion.

The building’s design features vertical panels of modelled concrete and glass, with a central stair core that is both naturally lit and serves as a ventilation device. Extensive northern sun shading reduces solar gain and lowers mechanical energy use, creating a sustainable, high-performance workplace that balances functionality with architectural clarity.