What is a ‘registered’ architect?

Island architect Karl Majurey says many people are confused as to how a ‘registered architect’ differs from an ‘architectural designer’ or ‘draftsman’.

“A registered architect has to have spent five years studying their profession with a minimum of two years practical experience before they can become registered. However, an architectural designer can use that title and have no experience,” he says.“A draftsman is qualified to draw up the building consent plans but they are not qualified to design or project manage.”“The registration give you’re the peace of mind that the person employed to do the job has gained knowledge, technical competence, responsibility and integrity required to be in practice.” “That’s because we manage huge budgets and things can go badly awry in the wrong hands,” says Karl.

Registered architects are required to gain a minimum of 100 points each year in ‘continuing professional development’ and they lose their ‘registered’ status if they don’t make the points. They also offer professional negligence insurance to all their clients and are backed by the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
“If you are looking to build a new home and an alteration or extension to your existing home or commercial space you need to have faith the person employed to do the job is going to get it right,” he says.

“Ask to see samples of their work and also go on your gut feeling. Are they someone you can trust and get on with? You might spend anywhere between six months to three years with them and having a good working relationship is important.”

Coming out of the Shadows

7th September 2006
Karl Majurey’s face will be familiar to many islanders but how he makes his living has been kept secret. Until now.The former Parnell resident moved to Waiheke four years ago in search of the “holiday feeling” and didn’t want to reveal his occupation.

“I came here to be part of a community and I was purposely not looking for work on the island as it was my haven, somewhere to relax,” he says.Instead Karl worked in the city and did the “typical Aucklander thing” racing for the ferry each morning.

But that all changed recently when he lost his partner Debbie to cancer. Her death brought about a change in outlook for Karl who realized there was more to life than climbing the corporate ladder.

“I nursed Debbie throughout her final two and a half years of cancer and my business suffered but survived. When Debbie died in March, I finally brought my work home and realized how beautiful it was working on the island,” he says.And so a new beginning is unfolding on Waiheke as he builds his business back up and runs his practice from home.

Karl is a registered architect with 16 years of experience on projects overseas in Spain, Rarotonga and recently Fiji, as well as commercial, office and residential developments in New Zealand. Prior to that he was an architectural draftsman and had eight years experience in drawing before starting an architectural degree.“The drafting course gives you a real solid grounding and often you know how to put a building together better than an architect,” he jokes.

His portfolio includes “dream homes” like the property pictured at Little Windy Ridge on Great Barrier, to multi-million dollar holiday resorts and housing schemes in Auckland. But he’s just as happy designing house alterations such as the relocatable bach he’s doing for a couple on Seaview Road.“You get to spend anywhere from six months to three years working with clients and in my experience they usually become good mates. I really get a kick out of helping people create their vision whether it be on a small or grand scale.”

As Karl “outs himself” as an island architect, he’s also hoping to forge new friendships and widen his Waiheke social circle. And he’s taking a novel approach to the task.“We all seem to have our own small communities that we move within and unless I make and effort I would never meet anyone new. I don’t know how many people I recognize as island faces but never stop and talk to,” he says.

Karl is also offering a free one-hour consultation to any islander who needs an opinion on an architectural project or who has a residential or commercial development in mind.