Architype
Architype is a Dunedin-based New Zealand architectural practice specializing in Passivhaus and high-performance building design, serving residential owners, volume builders, and government clients with architectural design, PHPP energy modeling, and certified air-tightness testing services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersDunedin, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Architype does
Architype is a New Zealand-based architectural practice specializing in Passivhaus (Passive House) and high-performance building design, operating from studios in Dunedin and Wanaka. The firm is led by Director Tim Ross with a compact team of three that includes Senior Architect Sam Parish and Graduate Architect Hunter Dale, with multiple staff holding Certified Passivhaus Designer credentials and an in-house ATTMA Registered Air Tightness Tester. Its portfolio spans bespoke residential homes, multi-unit developments, social housing, and cohousing, with more than 20 completed projects and several "firsts" in the New Zealand Passive House market.
The practice delivers architectural design services grounded in technical performance analysis, using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) for energy modeling and certified blower door testing for on-site verification. Notable projects include the DCC Community Housing development (New Zealand's first Passive House-certified social housing), the Toiora Cohousing community build, and St Clair Residences (a modular Passivhaus multi-unit scheme). Core services cover schematic design, detailed documentation, energy modeling, and air-tightness commissioning.
Revenue is generated through project-based professional service fees across three client segments: individual residential property owners (long-tail bespoke commissions), volume builders and developers (Fletcher Living, Quaid Construction), and government bodies (Dunedin City Council). The eHaus partnership extends delivery capacity across the Waitaki, Waikato, and Otago regions, providing a channel-based growth lever without proportional headcount expansion.
Architype firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Architype
- Legal name
- Architype
- Website
- https://architype.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Architype is a Dunedin-based New Zealand architectural practice specializing in Passivhaus and high-performance building design, serving residential owners, volume builders, and government clients with architectural design, PHPP energy modeling, and certified air-tightness testing services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Architype industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Custom Home Building (IMAFABAC)
Keywords
Where Architype is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dunedin
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Architype business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Services: Professional architectural services for design and delivery of highly optimised passivhaus and high performance buildings. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for architectural design, energy modelling, and construction administration services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Architype product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Architype provides specialized architectural design services for Passive House (Passivhaus) and high-performance buildings, primarily residential single-family homes, multi-unit housing, and community/social housing projects across New Zealand. The practice delivers full design, energy modelling using the Passive House Planning Package, and in-house blower door testing to verify airtight construction, producing certified buildings that achieve 90% reduction in space heating demand versus code-built homes.
Product overview
Architype is an award-winning New Zealand architectural practice offering specialized Passivhaus and high-performance architecture design services. The firm operates through two studios (Dunedin and Wanaka) and provides a comprehensive suite of services including architectural design, energy modelling using the Passive House Planning Package, and in-house blower door testing for verification of draft-proof construction. The practice has completed numerous certified Passive House residential projects ranging from single-family homes to large multi-unit developments like the Toiora Cohousing (24 homes) and DCC Community Housing (10 units). The team includes certified Passive House Designers and specialists in high-performance building envelope design.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Passivhaus Architectural Design Services End-to-end architectural design services specialising in certified Passivhaus (Passive House) and high-performance residential, multi-unit, commercial, and community housing projects across New Zealand. Engagements cover conceptual design, detailed design, construction documentation, and construction administration, supporting clients, builders, and end users through delivery.
- In-house Blower Door Testing Independent airtightness verification service performed in-house using blower door testing to confirm draft-proof construction meets Passive House certification thresholds. Delivered by an ATTMA Registered Air Tightness Tester, an uncommon capability among architectural practices.
- Energy Modelling Energy modelling using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) to optimise building design for thermal performance, predict heating demand, and demonstrate Passive House certification outcomes. Used on residential, multi-unit, and demonstration low-carbon housing projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% reduction in space heating demand vs code-built New Zealand homes
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Architype
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Architype technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Architype partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- eHaus WaitakicoreCollaboration on Lauder House project in Central Otago - targeting Passivhaus Certification. eHaus served as both builder and energy modeller on this project.
- eHaus WaikatocoreBuilder partner for Linear House project - a certified Passive House in Waikato that won the 2020 Waikato Architecture Awards.
- eHaus OtagocoreBuilder partner for Toiora Cohousing - Aotearoa's first certified multi-unit Passive House development (24 homes).
- Strachan Group ArchitectsminorConcept design collaboration on Fletcher Living LowCO project - Strachan Group Architects provided concept design while Architype (Tim Ross) provided detailed design.
- Sustainable EngineeringminorCarbon consulting partner for Fletcher Living LowCO project - Jason Quinn assessed energy models and conducted Life Cycle Assessment carbon calculations.
- Beca WellingtonminorLandscaping consultant for Fletcher Living LowCO project - reviewed implications of landscaping performance for low carbon, ecology, and biodiversity goals.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Architype competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Architectus: Australia and New Zealand architecture and urban design practice with sustainability focus. Operates across the Tasman with similar architectural design services and comparable residential/commercial project mix, though primarily Australia-headquartered.
- Cosy Homes: New Zealand-based retrofit and insulation specialist. Operates in adjacent space to Architype (warm, healthy, energy-efficient homes) but focuses on retrofitting existing dwellings rather than new Passive House design.
Direct peers
- Fearon Hay Architects: Award-winning Auckland-based architecture firm with a strong residential and high-end custom home portfolio. Comparable mid-to-large NZ practice with design quality recognition that overlaps with Architype's premium residential positioning.
- Studio Pacific Architecture: Wellington-based architecture and urban design practice with residential, commercial, and public sector work. Comparable NZ architecture firm with established design credentials and similar project scales.
- Boon Architects: New Zealand architectural firm with a sustainability and high-performance design focus. Comparable mid-sized practice serving residential and community clients across NZ with design quality credentials similar to Architype.
- eHaus: New Zealand's leading Passivhaus builder/developer operating across multiple regions. Both collaborator (on Stack House, Linear House, Toiora Cohousing, Lauder House) and direct comparable in the NZ Passive House delivery ecosystem, though positioned more on the construction than design side.
- Strachan Group Architects: New Zealand architectural practice that collaborated with Architype on the Fletcher Living LowCO House concept design. A peer NZ firm operating in the residential and sustainability-focused architecture space with comparable project scale.
Broad incumbents
- Athfield Architects: Long-established Wellington-based architecture firm with award-winning residential, commercial, and public architecture. A broader incumbent peer whose residential portfolio overlaps with Architype's market.
- BECA: Large New Zealand-headquartered engineering and architecture consultancy with sustainability expertise. Beca's architectural and engineering teams participate in high-performance building projects, making them a broad incumbent with overlapping capability.
- Warren and Mahoney: One of New Zealand's largest established architecture practices with broad residential, commercial, and urban design capabilities. Represents the broader incumbent landscape that Architype could scale into or compete against as sustainability becomes mainstream.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Architype social profiles
Digital presenceArchitype compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance16 records
Architype financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Architype leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Architype funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Architype M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Architype
What does Architype do?
Architype provides specialized architectural design services for Passive House (Passivhaus) and high-performance buildings, primarily residential single-family homes, multi-unit housing, and community/social housing projects across New Zealand. The practice delivers full design, energy modelling using the Passive House Planning Package, and in-house blower door testing to verify airtight construction, producing certified buildings that achieve 90% reduction in space heating demand versus code-built homes.
Is Architype a public or private company?
Architype is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Architype founded?
Architype was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Architype based?
Architype is headquartered in Dunedin, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Architype make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Services.
Who are Architype's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Architectus and Cosy Homes. Direct peers are Fearon Hay Architects, Studio Pacific Architecture, Boon Architects, eHaus and Strachan Group Architects. Broad incumbents are Athfield Architects, BECA and Warren and Mahoney.
Does Architype have an API?
No public API is recorded for Architype.
What industry is Architype in?
Architype's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAPAEAB, Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations, with a secondary code of IMAFABAC, Custom Home Building. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 1520.