We are a team of seven in this office. When required we have access to staff from the other eight Team Architects practices. We are an enthusiastic group with a passion for design and extensive knowledge of how buildings are put together. Directors have a “hands on” approach providing full involvement in the design, technical and contract monitoring parts of projects undertaken.
Paul Dougan
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT - B.A. (Hons), Dip Arch (Leics), De Montfort University, UK
With 38 years industry experience, Paul is respected for his integrity and strong work ethic, and is known for getting the best results from contractors and consultants. His designs are characterised by a sense of proportion and an equal emphasis on form and function.
Paul considers himself fortunate to work on a variety of project types, both in the private and public sectors. A key role on a major hospital project in London set him on a path of working on similar projects elsewhere, and he increased the depth of his knowledge and experience by implementing projects in Saudi Arabia, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Wales and Fiji, as well as in the Hawke’s Bay.
Among Paul’s more high-profile New Zealand projects is Hawke’s Bay Hospital, where he played a key role in consolidating most of the hospital facilities from Napier and Hastings onto the Hastings site. The complex multi-stage project was successfully completed below its anticipated cost of $49 million.
A natural off-shoot from the Hawke’s Bay Hospital, the Napier Health Centre project received an NZIA Local Architecture Award in the Healthcare and Hospitality Category. This was just one of numerous NZIA, Resene and Art Deco Trust awards Paul has won for healthcare, hospitality, heritage, commercial and education projects. Paul was also heavily involved in the Napier Intermediate School Redevelopment, a significant upgrade of the school’s facilities to provide flexible learning environments.
Outside the office, Paul enjoys feeding his passion for travel and the unique experiences it brings, such as motorcycling in North Africa and Trekking in the Himalayas. And when he’s at home, DIY, fitness and cycling occupy his spare time.
Robin Larkworthy
SENIOR ARCHITECT - B.A. (Hons), Victoria University of Wellington
Robin has more than 38 years of architectural practice experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, in practice formats ranging from sole charge to large-scale design firms.
His work experience spans almost every area of design, from large scale housing projects and grand individual homes to large format retail, commercial office, education, local authority and national institutional projects.
His most notable projects include the new hall, administration block, gymnasium and classrooms for New Zealand’s largest school, Rangitoto College; significant NZ Police projects around the Auckland region; London housing ‘urban renewal’ projects including the Surrey Quays Docklands and infill housing, and many one-off homes in New Zealand. Robin has also designed shopping centres, offices, factories and warehouses in both the UK and New Zealand.
Robin spent the first seven years of his career working in the UK, gaining valuable experience at design firms Sheppard Robson, RJ-JM and CZWG Architects, leaders in British architecture. On his return to New Zealand, Robin worked in Auckland for 14 years before moving back to Hawke's Bay with his family in 2003. He joined TEAM Architects in 2015.
Clear communication, honesty and collaboration are the hallmarks of Robin’s design approach. Highly proficient in construction documentation, his most successful projects have been the result of a collaborative approach to project delivery and the development of robust, enduring relationships.
Robin’s current interest is in environmentally sustainable design principles and working to mitigate the effects of climate change through the built environment. Outside of work, Robin is a keen runner who has clocked up 30 finishes in the Rotorua Marathon. He was Course Director for the BMW Auckland Marathon for 10 years, and has a passion for cricket.