Dark-clad architectural home at dusk with warm-lit windows, built by Ecotectural in Nelson Tasman

Nelson & Tasman · Architectural design, build & energy efficiency

Architectural Design and Build Tasman/Nelson.

Whether you bring a clear vision or a blank page, we design and build bespoke architectural homes across Nelson and Tasman, engineered to feel as good as they look: warm, healthy and comfortable, right through the year.

Building across Nelson and Tasman since 2006. Registered Master Builder.

Design, build and energy efficiency, Tasman and Nelson

Design-and-build specialists for architectural, energy-efficient homes in Nelson and Tasman.

Ecotectural designs and builds bespoke architectural homes across Nelson and Tasman, from Motueka and Mapua to Richmond and coastal Kaiteriteri.

Energy efficiency is our niche. From the first sketch to the day you move in, one accountable team stays with you: the right architect and engineer brought together around your project from the start, with every dollar of it visible to you. Every decision is made to keep your home warm, healthy and economical to run for life.

Cedar and dark-stained board-and-batten Ecotectural home on Horton Road, Tasman, with warm-lit windows at dusk
Bespoke energy-efficient home / Horton Road, Tasman

What we do

Everything it takes to design and build your home.

The Ecotectural difference

  • We own energy efficiency: warm, healthy, low-cost homes are our niche.

  • One open-book team: from first sketch to final key, every dollar visible.

  • Architects on hourly rates, not a slice of your build.

Sunlit living room with a timber ceiling and full-height glazing at golden hour in an Ecotectural home at Horton Road, Tasman

High-performance living

A home that looks after the people inside it.

Superior insulation, mechanical fresh-air systems and energy-efficient, climate-resilient construction deliver lasting comfort and healthy air, season after season.

Building since
2006
Designed to last
50+ years
10-year guarantees
Master Build + Halo
Registered
Master Builder + Certified Builder

"I wanted a home I could wear shorts and a t-shirt in year round and never feel cold."

Colin Hayman, Upper Moutere

Selected work across Tasman, Kaiteriteri & Nelson.

Many of our homes are completed under confidentiality, so this is only a selection. To see more, simply ask and we will arrange a private viewing or reference project.

Schist stone architectural home framed by mountains, with black-framed glazing
Stone & GlassArchitectural build
Kitchen of the Passive Home at Horton Road, Tasman
Horton RoadEnergy efficient
Hardwood deck and black-framed glazing along the timber-clad facade of The Green House, Tasman
The Green HouseDeck and glazing detail
Interior of The Black House, Tasman
The Black HouseTasman
The Cedar House, a design-and-build home by Ecotectural, Motueka
The Cedar House, MotuekaDesign and build
Bespoke built-in joinery and storage in a Passive Home, Tasman
Bespoke joineryInterior detail
Exterior of the Passive Home at Horton Road, Tasman
Horton RoadEnergy-efficient exterior
A finished Ecotectural home shown through the leaf-in-house emblem

The Black House film

The Black House, Tasman.

One of our bespoke architectural builds. Take a look inside.

Design and build, built in the open

Total transparency, from first sketch to final invoice.

You receive open-book pricing with fortnightly labour invoices and timesheets, plus monthly materials and subtrade invoices with supplier copies attached. You always know exactly where every dollar is going.

Our architects work on hourly rates, not a percentage of the build cost, so their focus is your best design, not a bigger budget.

  1. 01

    Engage early

    We join before the design is locked, so cost and buildability are considered from the very first idea.

  2. 02

    Collaborate on design

    You, your architect, our team and the engineer align on aesthetics, performance and budget together.

  3. 03

    Build open-book

    One managed team builds your home with full cost visibility and proactive, honest communication.

  4. 04

    Handover and guarantee

    You move into a home built to perform, backed by the Master Build and Halo 10-year guarantees.

What our clients say

Trusted by homeowners across Tasman & Nelson.

★★★★★
We were after a SIPs builder familiar with airtightness, air-changes per hour and MVHR. Daryl and his great team brought all components of the build together so the design concept worked and we couldn't be happier with the result.
Colin HaymanUpper Moutere
★★★★★
Daryl and the team did a great job, super professional and fantastic to work with. Nothing was a problem and there was always a solution to every challenge. If you'd like a new home built to the highest possible standard, Ecotectural is the right one for you.
Brad ChandlerGoogle review
★★★★★
I have no hesitation in recommending Daryl and his team of highly capable, efficient and friendly builders. Their work was finished to the highest standard and they were a pleasure to have working in our home. We will definitely have them back for any future work. Tracey Daryl is very friendly, professional and conscientious, it is clearly evident that he strives to deliver to a high level no matter the size of the job. I found his communication with us to be excellent, either in person or by phone/email etc.. In regards to his team of builders they are tremendous. Very nice to have around and in our house and we are so pleased with the results. Thank you team. Ian
Tracey & Ian FerneGoogle review

Good questions

Answers before you start.

Should I hire a builder or an architect first?

Start with the builder. When you come to us first, we bring your architect and engineer in at the right time and run the design, pricing, value management and scheduling together, shaped around how you actually live. It keeps the design buildable and the budget real from day one, keeps you in control, and usually costs less than going architect-first.

Can I be as involved in the design as I want?

Absolutely. Some clients bring a clear vision, others start with a blank page. Either way it is your home and you are involved at every stage, with us making sure every idea stays buildable, comfortable and on budget.

What does it cost to build with you?

It depends on your site, size and specification. Most of our builds start around $1M, and you get open-book pricing, so you see the real cost of every trade and material, nothing hidden.

How does your open-book pricing work?

You see the real cost of every trade and material, with our margin agreed openly up front, so nothing is hidden in inflated prices. You get fortnightly labour invoices with timesheets, and monthly materials and subtrade invoices with supplier copies attached, so you always know exactly where every dollar goes.

Do I have to build a Passive Home?

Not at all. It is one excellent option, but it does not suit every budget or site, and that is fine. We always build well above the minimum code, because New Zealand's minimum sets a low bar for comfort and running costs.

Where do you build?

Throughout Nelson and the Tasman District, including Richmond, Motueka, Mapua, Upper Moutere, Brightwater, Wakefield, Kaiteriteri and Riwaka. For the right project and the right client, we will travel beyond these areas too.

Aerial view of an energy-efficient Ecotectural home on a rural Tasman site with the mountains beyond

Let's talk about your build.

Whether you have a section, a set of plans, or just an idea, the best first step is a conversation. Arrange a site consultation with Daryl and Michael.

Daryl Combes · Managing Director 021 498 446 Michael Nelson · General Manager 021 0907 5665
Offices & workshop 79 Rowling Loop, Tasman Visits welcome by appointment.
Arrange a site consultation

Trusted memberships and partners

  • Registered Master Builders
  • New Zealand Certified Builders
  • Halo 10 Year Residential Guarantee
  • Licensed Building Practitioner
  • Formance structural insulated panels