Being many shapes and sizes over the years, we’ve evolved into a small, responsive multi-disciplinary Urban Design core including Planning, Architecture, Landscape and Graphics. This core is surrounded by semi-independent specialist units (Planning, Architecture, Landscape, Engineering and Ecology) to provide a complete, integrated, design and development service.
Multi-disciplinary means that no single profession takes precedence in the design and development process. It is truly collaborative, in no sense more than with the relationships we forge with end user communities and territorial authorities to help determine the success of every project.
What We Do
Underpinned by extremely strong environmental, cultural and social values, we shape the delivery of resilient and sustainable communities. Being design-focused, we provide innovative, inspirational and high quality project leadership that protects value for both client and community.
Due to our flexible structure we operate successfully on projects ranging from a single residential house through to national-scale development and land-use/community change. From strategy through to design and delivery, we provide a complete professional development and design service.
What We Offer
What we offer depends on who you are and what you need. Services range from advocacy for small community and non-profit organisations through to development and guideline planning for territorial authorities. In between are the full range of services required to get things built on the ground: Plan Changes, Resource and Building Consents, land-use planning, masterplanning, regeneration planning and design, infrastructure planning and design, architecture, landscape, ecological and social audits… what do you need?
Who We Are
Being many shapes and sizes over the years, we’ve evolved into a small, responsive multi-disciplinary Urban Design core including Planning, Architecture, Landscape and Graphics. This core is surrounded by semi-independent specialist units (Planning, Architecture, Landscape, Engineering and Ecology) to provide a complete, integrated, design and development service.
Multi-disciplinary means that no single profession takes precedence in the design and development process. It is truly collaborative, in no sense more than with the relationships we forge with end user communities and territorial authorities which helps determine the success of every project.
What We Do
Underpinned by extremely strong environmental, cultural and social values, we shape the delivery of resilient and sustainable communities. Being design-focused, we provide innovative, inspirational and high quality project leadership that protects value for both client and community.
Due to our flexible structure we operate successfully on projects ranging from a single residential house through to national-scale development and land-use/community change. From strategy through to design and delivery, we provide a complete professional development and design service.
What We Offer
What we offer depends on who you are and what you need. Services range from advocacy for small community and non-profit organisations through to development and guideline planning for government. In between are the full range of services required to get things built on the ground: Plan Changes, Resource and Building Consents, land-use planning, masterplanning, regeneration planning and design, infrastructure planning and design, architecture, landscape, ecological and social audits… what do you need?
History
CGS was launched in 1990 by founding partner James Lunday as a specialist urban design consultancy. Over the following 26 years we have evolved into an integrated planning and design consultancy with a broad range of skills covering all aspects of development from strategic plans and development feasibilities through to masterplans, architecture and landscape design.
Our skills have been instrumental in the success of projects across a wide spectrum – from small community-led projects through to regional-scale infrastructure schemes throughout New Zealand and the world. While for some of these we might not remain to execute delivery ourselves, our fingerprints can be found in many of this country’s leading development projects.
Today we operate offices in both Auckland and Christchurch, run by Tim King and James Lunday respectively.
While maintaining ‘general business as usual’, over the last decade the Auckland office in particular has concentrated on the particular problems around residential housing, densification, and urban functionality.
Our Philosophy and Approach
Our values are unashamedly for the public and environmental good. That is our non-negotiable position.
Jane Jacobs, the fairy godmother of urban design, boils down the practice of urban design to just a kind of economics. The three pillars of this economics central to our practice are:
- Social and Cultural Capital
- Environmental Capital
- Economic Capital
Our approach is even simpler than our philosophy. We have a belief that people are all pretty much the same in their needs and wants. We are no exception, so we use ourselves as the ultimate measure – what is the best environment we, with all our skill and experience, can deliver for ‘us’.
Everything must change. Nature, like a shark, will die if it doesn’t move. Development is just change in where and how we function in the world. It is not intrinsically bad, but done badly it can be. Design is a response-driven practice. Those three pillars of Jacob’s economics are what we respond to, designing in a way that not only protects but also strengthens communities and the environment.
Every situation is unique, and we’d like to think we can hide all our science and professional skill behind a façade of poetry and art and the sheer joy of life itself. We aim to create environments that nurture and inspire everyone in the community to live their best lives.
“Measure twice – cut once”
Creating great places and spaces is pivotal to achieving a consensus of political, community and other stakeholder support. Engaging with people early and taking them on the development journey also shapes the brief that informs feasibility modelling, the design, and ultimately flows through to sales to deliver a project that connects with the widest range of stakeholders possible.
The best projects are delivered by bringing together the best creative and expert resources within a structured environment. Engaging with the right team and keeping them well informed helps focus development options and reduce risks early in the process. Our wide network of trusted experts work seamlessly with our in-house team to deliver outcomes that can withstand the highest scrutiny.
A targeted “measure twice cut once” approach ensures we don’t put our clients through time-consuming and costly options development. We engage with the regulatory process early to promote benefits and positive change.
In the end we aim to create legacies that clients and communities can be proud of.
Interested in us?
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