Daryne Begbie joins RTA Studio
After 14 years with Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects, Daryne Begbie left the organisation earlier this year to go on a three-month sabbatical to the UK. She has now returned to join RTA Studio’s Auckland office as Development Manager for the practice’s soon to be launched Living House project.
In her role at the NZIA, Begbie managed the Institute’s events and sponsorhip programme, which included leading the annual two-week long national awards jury tour and biennial national conference. On her departure from the Institute, she said one of the things that she admired most about the industry was the dedication and commitment of so many architects to making a difference in our communities.
When discussing her new role working on The Living House, Begbie says she is looking forward to being involved with such an ambitious project, offering affordable, architecturally designed housing that is net carbon zero as a solution to combat New Zealand’s housing crisis.
“The Living House is a start-up delivering an innovative housing model in a market where building costs are continuing to rise exponentially,” says Begbie. “The flatpack assembly system redefines the production of a house – three people can erect the CLT-panel construction in a total build time of 6.5 weeks once the products arrive onsite.”
Begbie says RTA Studio is collaborating with well known, reliable and reputable New Zealand brands to take this product to market and all materials are resourced through companies based here in Aotearoa. The Living House will be available from mid-2025.
