Two award-winning designers have recently joined Ignite Architects’ Auckland studio. Audrey de Filippis and Céili Murphy strengthen the firm’s commercial sector with their experience of large-scale workplace, hospitality and hotel projects. 

Audrey brings extensive experience with hotel brands from around the world, having worked in the United States and New Zealand for over 10 years. She enjoys collaborating with clients to create an entire experience, rather than just a design. 

“Guests are no longer loyal to brands based solely on physical amenity and star ratings. They are developing loyalties based on experiences and hotels are investing in design and service as a way of differentiating themselves,” she explains. 

Audrey’s previous projects include Seattle’s Coterie Worklounge – winner of Commercial Interior of the Year by the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) – and the expansion of the Cordis hotel in Auckland while working as the hotel and hospitality lead at Jasmax. 

Ignite director of hospitality, Grant Armstrong, says, “Audrey is not just a designer and architect, she has a very strong business acumen that ensures every concept she creates is backed up with strategic understanding of how it will add value to her client’s operations and bottom line.”

Céili will join the company’s commercial division as a senior interior designer. After studying fine arts, she worked as an art director and in advertising before working in interior design. She has previously helped create the interiors for the Māori Television offices, winner of both and NZIA National Architecture Award and an Interior Award.

Céili’s designs offer rich storytelling and intuitive wayfinding methods, putting the end-user first. Commercial director at Ignite, Richard Voss, commends her unique skillset and the strengths she brings to the team.

“Céili has a wonderful ability to collaborate with clients and other agencies to create and integrate marketing and design material into spatial designs. We couldn’t be more delighted to have someone of her calibre come on board,” Voss says.

“I’m looking forward to being part of a work family I can grow with, while working to enhance my skills as a market-leading designer,” Céili says.