Building a legacy
We believe a building is more than a project. It can be a legacy. A gift to future generations. But that kind of thinking takes patience, intention, and heart. And it means asking bigger questions:
How will this place care for people?
How does it connect with the land?
How can it give more than it takes?
The answers will shape everything, from the materials in the walls the sunlight in the room.
The design challenge
Architectural projects are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Whatever you’re designing – a dream home, an epic re-build, a community space – you get one chance to do it right.
(No pressure…).
That means being ready for honest conversations. It means being open to bold, better ways of doing things. And it means having courage and holding onto what matters – especially when the process gets complex.
Design can be demanding. But it’s also creative, inspiring and joyful.
And it’s worth it.
What we do
It’s your project, your vision, your story. Our job is to listen, understand and bring it all together. And we promise to give you every advantage we have.
Our team of qualified architects and designers has led residential, commercial and community projects across Aotearoa since 2012. We’re proud to be Passivhaus Certified Architects and strive to follow the principles of the Living Building Challenge. (We’ve also won some awards, and we’re proud of those too).
Black Pine is 13 years into its journey and we’re just getting started. Our ambition is to become a one-hundred-year-old company that leaves a positive legacy for future generations.
Want to build a place that looks good, feels good, and does good?
This is where you begin
Projects & Services
What would you like to design?
Residential
Commercial
Community
Passivhaus
Project Management
Villa Cuba
Rose House
Alpine Retreat
Commercial
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Community
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Passivhaus
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Project Management
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Black Pine Team
Duncan Sinclair
As a Registered Architect, Duncan was the original Black Piner, with Black Pine Architects’ inception aligning with the winter solstice of 2012 (Co-incidence? We think not!😊.)
Building on professional experience in large-scale construction gained both here and overseas. He has used his skills and keen interest in people and planet to establish a design firm that focuses on place-based, custom solutions for clients.
He is the founding partner of Black Pine Architects with 15 years’ experience across five countries. Working in various climates including colder ones, he realised the importance of designing buildings to suit their environment for comfort and health. After academic studies in Architecture and Construction Management he founded Black Pine Architects in 2012 focussing on high-performance buildings using the Passivhaus standard. The goal is to create healthy environments for clients and future generations, positioning humans as co-creative and mutually-evolving participants in an ecosystem—not just a built environment.
Duncan is constantly seeking better solutions for his clients and the team he is a part of.
Black Pine Architects has become an award-winning practice for sustainable design.
Margaret Samuels
Margaret role at Black Pine Architects includes administration, marketing and communications, reflecting her background in complex organisations meeting established goals on time and within budgets. Her marketing experience is across diverse organisations including community groups, multinational and local companies, as well as for individuals.
Reshma Cherian
Reshma Joined the Black Piners’ team in 2023 as an Architectural graduate after completing a Bachelor of Architecture (5yr), in India, and a Master of Architecture, NZ M.ARCH (prof) from Victoria University Te Herenga Waka.
As a passionate Black Piner, she is committed to creating warm comfortable spaces through Passivhaus design.
Her background research and site analysis for clients identifies critical issues before design work begins and she assists clients and construction partners to understand concept design through sketches, drawings and models.
Reshma also prepares and manages resource consent and building consent applications on behalf of clients.
Emma de Bruin
Emma has finished her studies in her home country of South Africa, completing her Bachelor’s in Technology. As a qualified Senior Architectural Technologist, she looked towards New Zealand for a fresh start after graduation. She joined Black Pine in February of 2020, attracted to the practice’s holistic approach and sustainable design principles.
At Black Pine, she helps with drawing up the projects through their stages, working with them from their preliminary design phase down to the nitty-gritty detail design. She also lends her skills in visual realisation and presentation, along with her willingness to see a task through to the end.
She hopes to continuously challenge herself and learn new and improved ways of design and construction, under the approach of joining the environment, functionality and aesthetics.
Black Pine extended family
Our success is possible due to the efforts of past Black Piners. They are part of our legacy, and we thank them for their contribution.
Akshaya Baskar
Akshaya graduated from architecture college in India and took her first step into the workforce through Black Pine in early 2020. Her keen interest in learning, attention to details, adaptive nature and immense love for dogs made her a true Black Piner.
She took everything in her stride: being new to New Zealand, getting used to the cultural change, braving the coldest winters of her life and learning how to move forward without losing her identity.
Tara
Tara became a Black Piner in 2015. Fresh out of puppy school, she was keen to apply her natural talents and slipped easily into her dual-focus role as Mental Health and Security Manager.
If the office vibe threatened to get too intense, Tara was the first to suggest a run around in the back yard to blow off steam.
Tara was a quiet achiever, keeping a close eye on activity around the office and surrounds.
Get in touch
0274 877766
duncan@blackpine.co.nz