Dorrington Atcheson Architects

About

Twenty years of experience coupled with an enduring spirit of youthful enthusiasm is the yin-yang balance that makes Dorrington Atcheson Architects a team that has produced so many award-winning buildings for their clients.

While every project calls for a fresh eye and an innovative approach, directors Tim Dorrington and Sam Atcheson also draw upon their considerable experience within the New Zealand marketplace.

Specialising in residential design, but with a proven track record in retail and office environments, this boutique company has quietly made their mark on the built environment, winning several NZIA awards.

Their methodology is highly collaborative, so while DAA favours contemporary design that takes its cue from mid-century modernism, its role is not to dictate but to engage with the requirements of home-owners and clients. Responding to site, budget and idiosyncrasies is all in a day’s work.

This honest approach is reflected in the materiality of their buildings where natural products are celebrated. Dorrington Atcheson Architects design functional spaces with measured proportions, a simplicity of structure and just enough surprise to delight.

Testimonials

Our extension that DAA designed for us exceeded our lofty expectations.
We found the creative process inspiring, collaborative and felt well guided through each step of the building process.
From the material palette through to the final bold architectural forms, everything large or small was grounded in Sam’s considered aesthetic and his understanding of the ethos of the project.

Alex and Georgia

We asked Tim and the team at DAA to help us renovate our bungalow in a way which would be functional, bring light and views to our home, be sympathetic to the original architecture and live within our budget!
Tim listened (a lot) and then came up with a bold design that we loved and which ticked all our boxes.
DAA worked with us on the important design decisions throughout the build and helped us get a result we are quite simply delighted with.

Mark and Shelley

I engaged DAA to design my Titirangi home in 2012. I know a few architects personally, so asked them who they recommended (other than themselves) and Tim and Sam were consistently named in those recommendations.
It was the right choice.
Many people say building a house is stressful. But (spending the money aside), I loved the process and much of the credit for that sits with DAA. They listened to my ideas, shared theirs, were happy to debate and be challenged. They were empathetic and understood what I was trying to create in a home. It felt like they cared about the project as much as I did.

Mark