Celebrating Over a Decade at Macfie Architecture | In Conversation with Architect Madeline Stuart

Madeline Stuart was Macfie Architecture's first-ever member of staff. She joined our Auckland architecture practice as a graduate architect more than a decade ago, and in many ways she and the practice have grown up together. Today, she is a Registered Architect and our most senior team member.

We sat down with Madeline to talk about more than a decade of heritage renovation in Auckland - villas, bungalows and character homes - the lessons that only come with time, and what it actually means to build a career in architecture in New Zealand.

You joined Macfie Architecture as a graduate more than a decade ago - what drew you to the practice at the start?

I was working towards my master's degree when the role at Macfie Architecture came up. Michael and I met, and it was clear quickly that we saw the work the same way. Joining a young practice meant real responsibility from the outset - not watching from the edges of a large firm, but contributing to every stage of every project. That's rare for a graduate, and it shaped everything that came after.

What do you remember most about those early days as a graduate architect?

Gaining a hard and fast understanding of the full scope of the job - moving between developing a technical detail and creating beautiful conceptual drawings, sometimes within the same afternoon. Being part of a young practice meant the practice and my career developed in parallel, and that gave my work a very structured, methodical foundation.

A full-scope minor dwelling moves through the same process as a 400sqm coastal new-build, albeit at a different scale. The confidence, and a true understanding of the design and legislative processes, comes only with time and experience.

How has your role evolved over the past decade - what does a typical week look like for you now?

At the moment, lots of wonderful concepts - new builds, heritage conservation projects, bathroom renovations. It's a genuinely enjoyable climate to be designing in: making family homes work for their budget, and balancing assets with aesthetics.

What's the most important thing you've learned about architecture over the past decade that you couldn't have learned in study?

That the job demands clear communication, persistence and problem resolution. Someone told me early on that "the only thing you can count on in construction is that there will be problems to solve." Learning to approach a difficult detail or an unexpected site issue with an open mind, and to keep the environment positive and constructive while you do, is something that can't be taught through study. Design crits touch on operating under pressure, but nothing quite prepares you like a real world site with the concrete slab poured and the steel about to arrive.

Is there a project from your time at Macfie that you're particularly proud of, or that has stayed with you?

There have been a few! Working with my father on a clifftop coastal home, of course - a significant undertaking for us both, and proof that his investment in my education paid off. A project in the Bay of Islands has always stayed with me too; it was one of my earliest design opportunities. When I have the chance to work closely with clients, those projects tend to become heart projects.

What does the relationship between architect and client mean to you - how do you approach that side of the work?

It's a critical relationship. In residential work, I believe it's essential to understand how your clients actually live - as individuals and as a family.

Some families don't love to cook, but they love gathering around the dining table; in that case a generous kitchen might come second to the dining space, and vice versa. Some families live in the lounge, while for others the bedrooms are an oasis.

The suburban Auckland sites we work with demand real consideration around where space is allocated - we're often designing on half sites and quarter sites - so it's crucial we focus on what matters most to each client, and deliver a well-designed home that makes sense of how they live. We're currently building systems within the practice to make that conversation even richer.

Auckland's heritage overlay and consenting landscape is complex - what advice would you give to a homeowner navigating it for the first time?

Build a team around you with whom you can communicate - and then communicate with them. No question is too small, no thought too silly. Heritage is complex, and you need to be able to trust your team and trust the process.

What would you say to a graduate architect considering joining Macfie Architecture today?

It's a wonderful place to learn. The team has been carefully built from different personalities, skill levels and strengths, and the common thread is that everyone is here to support one another. There's a genuine focus on growth - both within the industry and personally - which is something too easily forgotten in our profession.