Show the work clearly
Existing, demolition and proposed plans, elevations and sections as required. Site information and measured records establish the starting point.
NZ Registered Architect · Fixed-fee service
Building consent.
A clearer path
from plan to approval.
We help New Zealand homeowners, building owners and property managers with building consent drawings, specifications and council coordination. Upfront due diligence. A clear scope. A fixed fee.
Auckland accessible. Supporting projects across New Zealand.
What can we help you build?
Find your project.
Understand the work.
From a bathroom alteration to an extension, we connect the design, technical details and evidence council needs to assess your application.
Open the service that fits your project. Each explains what we do and connects you with relevant guidance and examples of our work.
See the core consent packageRenovations & structural alterations
Reconfigure your home, remove walls, change openings or upgrade an older building.
We document the existing and proposed layouts, demolition scope, construction details and the effect of changes on the building. Where beams, bracing, foundations or other load paths change, we coordinate architectural information with the structural engineer's design.
What we look at
Existing records, site measurements, structure, insulation, services and junctions between old and new work.
House extensions & additions
Add bedrooms, living space, an upper floor or an attached addition.
An extension must work with the existing house. We prepare the proposed layout, elevations, sections and connection details, and coordinate foundations, bracing, roof drainage and specialist inputs. Early site and planning checks help identify constraints before the consent drawings are finalised.
What we look at
Site constraints, existing-house capacity, roof and wall connections, stairs, drainage and consultant responsibilities.
Bathrooms, kitchens, laundries & wet areas
Add or relocate fixtures, change a bathroom layout or plan a tiled shower.
We first check the actual scope: a bathroom renovation is not automatically a consent application. Where documentation is required, we coordinate layouts, waterproofing details, substrates, ventilation, safety glazing, plumbing and drainage information. An exemption check and the construction detail are separate questions, and both matter.
What we look at
What is being replaced or altered, floor structure, fixture connections, waterproofing systems and evidence for inspections.
Garage conversions & habitable spaces
Turn a garage, rumpus room or storage area into usable living space.
A room needs more than a new lining to perform as living space. We review the existing records and intended use, then document the relevant floor moisture, exterior clearances, insulation, daylight, ventilation, fire and services matters. New bathrooms or kitchens add their own evidence and coordination needs.
What we look at
Existing slab and envelope, the intended room use, drainage, external ground levels and changes during construction.
Decks, balconies & outdoor structures
Plan a deck, balcony, veranda, barrier or covered outdoor living area.
We check the proposed structure and its relationship with the house before preparing plans and details. Raised decks, barriers, membrane decks and enclosed or covered areas raise different questions. Connections, stairs, drainage, weather exposure and structural input are documented around the actual design.
What we look at
Height and use, structural connections, barriers, waterproofing, door thresholds and drainage.
Recladding, roofing & weathertightness work
Resolve leaks or document changes to cladding, roofing, windows and junctions.
The first task is to understand the existing construction and the proposed repair or replacement. We develop the relevant wall and roof build-ups, flashing and junction details, and coordinate specialist advice where damage or structural questions require it. The documentation distinguishes proposed work from existing conditions and hidden areas that still need investigation.
What we look at
Existing condition, moisture management, material compatibility, durability and the boundaries of the remedial scope.
New homes, granny flats & minor dwellings
Prepare for a new residential build or a self-contained secondary home.
We start with the site, intended use and approval pathway, then define the architectural and consultant scope. When building consent is required, the package brings together plans, sections, specifications and relevant structural, geotechnical, energy and services information. A granny flat needs its own exemption and planning assessment before the documentation route is chosen.
What we look at
Site information, planning constraints, foundations, building envelope, energy performance, services and specialist design.
Sleepouts, cabins & detached buildings
Work out the right pathway for a backyard room, studio, cabin or sleepout.
The proposed use, size, services and site conditions shape the route. We help distinguish a detached room from a self-contained dwelling, check the documentation needed for your scope and coordinate a consent package where required. Our dedicated sleepout page explains the service in greater detail.
What we look at
Sleeping use, sanitary facilities, planning constraints, foundations, services and records for existing buildings.
The core package
Consent Drawings
& Specifications
One coordinated architectural package that explains what is proposed and how it will be built. The exact deliverables are confirmed in your fixed-fee scope.
Resolve the important details
Project-specific construction details, schedules, specifications and compliance notes. Relevant structural, drainage, energy and other specialist inputs are coordinated with the design.
Prepare for council assessment
An organised drawing and evidence package, agreed application support and responses on our documentation. Design certificates are included where required by the scope.
Your proposal separates our architectural fee from council charges, specialist fees and any additional services. Builder pricing and construction are separate stages.
Request your fixed-fee scopeExperience you can explore
Real projects. Visible evidence.
See the project problem, the work ArchSolutioNZ carried out and the documented outcome. These stories include drawings, project records and clients' own accounts.
TaurangaCCC issued
Garage conversion, from drawings to CCC
We prepared the consent drawings, coordinated wet-area and drainage details, and supported three minor variations during the remote consent journey.
Explore the project and client story
Remuera, AucklandConsent issued
Bathroom & laundry consent
Existing-condition recording, wet-area documentation and an Auckland Council RFI response supported this homeowner's renovation application.
Explore the project and client story
Balmoral, AucklandBoth consents approved
Two houses. Two consent journeys.
We prepared separate renovation applications and managed the differing council assessments: one without RFIs, the other with coordinated responses.
Explore the project and client story
PaeroaDocumentation prepared
Rumpus renovation & enclosed deck
Old-plan reconstruction, 3D scanning, insulation upgrades and envelope detailing brought the proposed work into one coordinated documentation package.
Explore the project and client storyIn our clients' words
“In every aspect, Alejandro made the process easy to understand.”
Manuel Quiroz
Tauranga garage conversion client
Read the full client account“Really helpful as I had no idea where to start.”
Matan A.
Remuera bathroom and laundry client, on having the consent documents prepared
Read the full client accountFrom first conversation to council outcome
Know what happens.
Know who does what.
You do not need to arrive with a finished design or know which approval applies. We start with your situation, make the responsibilities clear and work through the agreed scope.
More about working with us- 01
Understand the property and the plan
Send the address, photos, existing plans and what you want to change. We review the background and identify what needs checking, including a site visit or measured survey where appropriate.
- 02
Agree the pathway, scope and fixed fee
Our upfront due diligence defines the architectural work, deliverables and responsibilities. Your proposal identifies consultant inputs, council fees and any separately scoped services before you commit.
- 03
Prepare and coordinate the application
We prepare the architectural drawings and specifications and coordinate the agreed specialist information. Lodgement responsibilities are set out in your scope.
- 04
Work through council's questions
We respond to questions about our documentation and coordinate relevant updates. Changes to your design or additional work are discussed with you before proceeding.
- 05
Council decision and the next steps
Council assesses the application and issues its decision. Where consent is granted, we explain the approved documents and relevant next steps. Construction inspections, variations and CCC support can then be scoped for the build.
Professional accountability
Led by an
NZ Registered Architect.
ArchSolutioNZ is led by Alejandro Hidalgo Uzqueda. Architectural judgement, documented design decisions and coordination with the right specialists underpin our building consent work.
Our project stories let you examine the work behind that claim: plans, technical details, council responses and client feedback. Council makes the approval decision; our role is to prepare and explain the architectural evidence for the agreed project.
Answers for the stage you are at
A useful guide, when you need it.
Explore the details at your own pace, or send us your project and we will help identify which questions matter.
Before you commit
Understand the approval pathway
Check what the project involves before spending on the wrong documents.
Preparing the application
Know what council needs to assess
Understand how the design, evidence and consultant documents fit together.
Approval to completion
Keep the record clear during the build
Approval is a milestone. Site changes, inspections and final evidence still matter.
Before you decide
Your building consent questions, answered.
These are the practical questions that help define a project. If yours is more specific, send the plans, photos or council correspondence and we can review the context.
Do I need building consent for my renovation?
It depends on the work, the building and the applicable exemption conditions. Describe the proposed changes and supply any plans or photos you have. We review the scope before recommending consent documentation, an exemption assessment or another approval pathway.
Can you work with my existing design or builder?
Yes. Send the drawings and the stage the project has reached. We assess whether the information can support a consent application, what still needs development and where design or consultant responsibilities need clarification. A builder's sketch may be a useful starting point but may not contain the technical information council needs.
What does your fixed fee include?
We complete upfront due diligence and provide a fixed fee for the agreed architectural scope. The proposal sets out the drawings, specifications, coordination and processing support included, along with exclusions. Council charges, specialist fees and additional services are identified separately so you can understand the total commitments.
How much will the consent and construction cost?
Architectural fees, council fees, consultant inputs and construction are different costs. The project scope, existing records, site conditions and technical complexity determine which are needed. We quote our agreed architectural scope after review; a builder prices construction against the defined work. A generic online figure is not a project quotation.
How long will my application take?
Allow for investigation, design decisions, documentation, consultant input and council processing. Missing information and requests for further information can affect the programme. Our project stories show actual outcomes, but those timeframes are not promises for another property. We discuss the expected stages for your project before starting.
Will I need an engineer or another consultant?
Some projects need structural, geotechnical, drainage, planning, fire or energy expertise. We identify the likely inputs during the scope review and coordinate the agreed specialist information with our drawings. Consultant appointments and fees are clarified in the proposal.
Is resource consent included in building consent?
They are separate approvals. Planning rules address matters such as land use and site constraints, while building consent addresses the proposed building work. We identify where planning review or another specialist may be needed before progressing the documentation.
Do you provide site visits and work outside Auckland?
Yes. We support New Zealand projects through digital documents, online communication and coordination with clients and project teams. Site recording, visits or local specialist input are arranged where the project requires them. The Tauranga client story shows a project supported remotely through to CCC.
What if work has already been completed without consent?
Start with a review of the work and the council record. A new consent application does not retrospectively approve completed work. Certificate of Acceptance assessment, remedial work, missing CCC records or another process may be relevant, depending on what was built and what can be verified.
Does building consent mean my project has its CCC?
No. Consent is approval for the documented work to proceed. Construction, inspections, changes and completion evidence follow. CCC is a separate completion step. We explain the handover at approval and can scope construction-stage documentation and council support where needed.
A different starting point?
Choose the support that fits your situation.
Work already built without approval?
Review the evidence and possible Certificate of Acceptance pathway.
Council processing or sign-off is stuck?
Get support with RFIs, inspections, variations and CCC records.
Unsure about the site or council record?
Start with feasibility, planning or a property-file review.
Planning a business premises?
Explore commercial consents, specialist coordination and BWOF support.
Start with what you have
Your project doesn't need to be fully figured out.
Send the property address, a description of the work, and any photos, plans or council comments. We will review the starting point and define the next step with you.
Official references