Testimonials

It is with great pleasure I write to you about our experience hiring Gary to design our holiday home in Wanaka. On two occasions in the past Belinda and I have commissioned architects, one to design a new house and another to renovate our current home in Sydney. Both times, for different reasons we walked away. To say we were a little gun-shy commissioning an architect 2,000 kilometres away is putting it mildly, especially as this was going to be the first house we had ever built.

After we bought our land, Belinda scoured the net and came upon Gary’s web site. Call it luck or by design but Gary was flying into Sydney the following week and we arranged to meet at the airport. From that first meeting we liked Gary very much and felt very comfortable talking with him.

On his return home Gary visited the site in Wanaka and phoned saying that he was confident in designing us a house that would be a perfect fit for the land, the surrounding environment and for our family. What we really liked about Gary was he listened to our thoughts and comments and took great pains to encompass them in the design. We were also fortunate that we were not in a mad hurry to start building. We wanted everything to be just right, so we visited Gary on another 3 or 4 occasions during the year before we were all very happy with the final design. One interesting comment Gary did make, he wanted the whole experience of design a build to be enjoyable, and I have to tell you… it has been.

Early on Gary gave us a broad brush cost estimate so we knew if we were within the ball-park or dreaming a fantasy. To be honest it really hasn’t deviated that much from Gary’s original estimate. Sure the costs have increased a little but not that much over the contingency that Gary strongly recommended we allow. Gary did make further recommendations during the construction as the house began to evolve. The extra costs were always quoted for us to consider and if not happy, we had the opportunity to stay with the original quote and design. Gary introduced us to Nevin Gibb, our builder and between the two of them I cannot believe the exceptionally high standard of build.

Gary has been with project the whole way and the best decision we made was for him to stay involved until the end. I hope you use Gary; he’s a great guy and a very talented architect.

We are now settled in our new home and felt we should write and thank you and your team for your planning and design work on this award winning project. As you are well aware the house site is rather difficult in that it is relatively narrow and rather steep.

On the positive side it enjoys panoramic views of the city and coast line. Your design has succeeded in maximising the view while creating a light and airy atmosphere which is constantly bathed in sunlight. We thank you for listening carefully to our requirements and suggestions and producing plans accordingly. We are delighted with the end result and have received numerous favourable comments from all those who visit our home.

We also note that we have now dealt with you on a number of diverse projects. You and your team prepared the plans for the extensions to our beach house at Karitane and alterations to the kitchen of our previous home. In the commercial area you designed two residential apartments, 2 award winning office fit out for Enabling Ltd in Dunedin and the refurbishment of the Taieri Gorge Railway Tenancy.

In each instance all those involved in the planning process and the completion of the necessary work have enjoyed the interaction with you and your team. It was a pleasure to work with you and your team and we wish you ongoing success.

We have worked with Gary on three new homes, two in Dunedin and one in Wanaka, and have been delighted with the quality, design and functionality of all our homes. Gary understood our needs and tastes well. He listened well to our design ideas and practical needs, while also showing a real enthusiasm for architectural design flair of his own to bring to the project.

Gary has worked with us on homes from traditional to contemporary styling and his breadth of design and project management skills ensured that we have been very satisfied clients every time. We are very happy to recommend Gary and Gary Todd Architecture Ltd to anyone considering designing and building a new home.

We are very happy to share our experience of working with Gary Todd who served in the roles of architect and project manager for us. Additionally, as were living in the USA, Gary helped us find suitable property on which to build.

Our initial contact was over the phone. We found Gary to be very personable, great listener and very aware of our needs and wants with this project. We were so confident in Gary’s understanding of what we were looking for in a house and piece of land that we asked Gary to identify properties for us to look at.

Gary selected a few suitable properties and Rick then did a flying visit to NZ. Rick met with Gary, for the first time and made the final decision on the land. The choice was made easy by Gary because he had visited the preferred site numerous times so he understood the land well. Gary’s time spent on the land truly showed in his design. As a result of his comprehensive understanding of the land he recommended the moving of the approved building site in order to maximise views and sun; both of which were part of our original brief and important to us.

Gary confirmed that he could design a house suitable for both the land and our likes, help us select a competent builder, obtain resource consents and act as project manager in our extended absence. We were not to meet Gary again in person for 9 months. During this time we worked through the design via frequent email, 3-D renditions via Dropbox and Skype. We found Gary to be a good communicator and very accessible. By the time we met Gary again, for only the second time, the build was well underway and we were delighted with the accuracy of the renditions, the fit between the house and the land and Gary’s overall level of understanding and execution of our initial brief.

Gary’s interpretation and management of our dream was clearly taking shape, even in our absence. Our trust and confidence in Gary had proved to be well deserved. Even after our arrival in NZ Gary continued to maintain his roles and closely monitor the progress of the build. Gary’s recommendation of Bamford McLeod Construction as builders was excellent. The builders understood the challenges we faced with a remote build and along with Gary, worked hard to over come these at every opportunity.

Gary’s initial cost estimate was accurate overall. During the building process we chose to pursue certain upgrades that both Gary and we felt would significantly enhance the project and they did. After living in the house for a short time we have found that we have everything in this home that we wished for and more; it functions beyond our expectations and is aesthetically beautiful. We feel very fortunate to have found Gary and would certainly work with him again. Gary made the process easy, helped us make wise decisions and designed an even better home than we had expected. We wholeheartedly recommend Gary Todd.

Phil and I wanted to thank you and your team for designing and coordinating the build of our spectacular home on Queenstown Hill. Our brief was to create a private retreat completely diverse from our city life in Brisbane so the we could enjoy the breathtaking backdrop of the views offered at the front and rear of the house. You listened carefully and attentively creating a masterpiece that has since been recognised in various design awards and rightly so. Your passion, commitment and focus throughout the design and project management phases was greatly appreciated given we were communicating from Australia over emails and phone calls for most of the project.

What we love most about the architectural design is way the house blends harmoniously with the beauty of the stunning landscape. The materials used - metal, glass, concrete, stone, along with the warmth of timber, to complement rather than detract from the views. You have designed so many sleek spaces with an elegant contemporary glamour, yet completely functional for a family. 

The open plan kitchen and dining area that flows into the living room is the heart of our home, where we regularly entertain guests easily with minimal fuss largely due to the layout of these areas. The rear deck with the fireplace is where we’ve created many special moments as a family, nestling us in a cocoon protected from the cold weather and wind of the winter months. This area transforms nicely from winter to summer with the automatic opening louvered roof, allowing us to enjoy the sunshine during warmer months. 

When any of our friends visit the home they are amazed at how many special features you have incorporated into the design, from the rooftop terrace overlooking Queenstown Hill, to the living green walls in the foyer, to the glass wine cellar, to the spa overlooking the waterfall that cascades through the home. You have brought to life our truly beautiful home that we worked hard to own. 

CASCATA is a special sanctuary for our entire family. Thank you to you and your team for all your efforts throughout the project.