Our Team
We are a NZIA registered architectural practice, working predominantly in and around Ōtautahi Christchurch. We do take on work further afield, and get involved in projects all around New Zealand.
Our studio is on Cashel Mall in the city center.
Because we believe in a good work-life balance, our studio is open Monday to Thursday. Fridays are for family time, outside interests and life admin.
Karen Manson
Karen graduated from the University of Auckland, moving to the U.K soon after where she worked for 10 years. She has worked on a range of large urban renewal and housing development schemes, including the RIBA award-winning Officer’s Field development in Weymouth, UK.
This developed her expertise in designing for spatial efficiency, urban design and sparked her interest in thermal design. Since returning to New Zealand she has become a certified Passive House designer and established Meta Architects to provide higher quality housing to New Zealanders.
Contact
022 044 2176
Qualifications
B.AS, B.Arch (hons)
ANZIA Reg Arch
Certified passive house designer
L.B.P (Design 2)
Noel Guilfoyle
Noel is an Architectural Technician and Passive House consultant from Ireland with a Masters Environmental Architecture.
He has a practical approach and an interest in the construction and documentation behind a building, just as much as how it looks aesthetically and performs for the client or people who occupy the space.
He has experience in the architecture industry in Ireland, Canada, and Australia and is passionate about high-performance buildings. Since moving to New Zealand, Noel has worked on various residential, commercial, and educational projects.
Contact
022 044 2160
Qualifications
Diploma in Architectural Technology
Msc Architectural: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies
Certified passive house consultant
Homestar Assessor
Jess Brown
Jess is an architectural graduate with a Master of Architecture (Professional) from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
She has an interest in design outcomes that are culturally and environmentally responsive, with a strong focus in working with people and communities.
Her master’s thesis looked into the applications of Local traditional ecoloical knowledge (Lo-TEK) and indigenous practice in creating DIY retrofit solutions to improve residential wellbeing outcomes.
In 2025 Jess was named on the short list for NZGBC’s Future Thinker of the Year.
Contact
022 044 2160
Qualifications
B.AS M.Arch (Prof)
Zoë Heswall
Zoë is a MArch (Prof.) Architectural Graduate from the same graduating class as Jess at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University.
She has specialised interests in ecological design, where her thesis focused on residential responsiveness to severe weather events in coastal areas and the impact of climate change on environments.
Zoe has recently moved from an architecture firm Northland, where she brings knowledge from both commercial builds, high-level residential projects and renovations. This, alongside some delicious baking and enthusiasm for exploring new places.
Contact
022 044 2160
Qualifications
B.AS M.Arch (Prof)
Chris Dopheide
Chris is a Registered Architect. Although working at one of New Zealand’s larger architectural practices, he provides governance advice and quality assurance for technical and design.
Contact
Specialisms
Governance
Technical quality assurance
Design critiques
Qualifications
B.AS, B.Arch (hons)
ANZIA Reg Arch
Wider Team
Since we’re a small practice, we reach out to trusted friends in the industry for critiques on all our projects. An outside perspective can help us clarify our design moves, and we value the diversity of opinion that our reviewers bring to our work.