This site documents architecture, research and design by mark southcombe in collaboration with others over time.

Architecture, Research, and Design projects, their contexts, and their effects on people and place are Mark's preoccupation. Mark is a Associate Professor leading Teaching and Research projects at Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design. He also has a boutique applied architecture practice Southcombe Architects that operates as a specialist design consultancy and also realises architecture, research and design work for clients independently and though collaborations with others. Marks practice history over time includes Southcombe McClean and Co, BSM Group Architects, PRAXIS Architecture Research Design, VOID Architecture Research Urbanism and his current practice Southcombe Architects. Collaborators include amazingly talented students, colleagues, other consultants, craftspeople and clients.  The images and the texts selected in this site tell their own stories...we hope you enjoy them.

ARCHITECTURE

Architecture effects people. So knowledge of the ways this occurs and the likely effects are key. Southcombe Architects is a specialist design consultancy that advises and collaborates with people, groups, communities, public bodies, and other design professionals to achieve design outcomes that make a positive difference to environments. Our work includes design advice and consultancy, workshops and feasibility, concept design and drawings, competitions, critique and professional peer review, seminars and lectures.  

RESEARCH

Learning requires thinking about what we do and others have done in relation to particular circumstances and environments, reflecting on the significance of this for the future, and remembering or recording this. Mark Southcombe leads architecture design studios and supervises research at VUW School of Architecture, and leads design-led research projects shifting between academic and practice worlds. His research has visual and written outcomes, and includes contributions to Urban and Collective Housing, Ecologies Design, Design Pedagogy, Prefabrication, Sacred Space, Whanganui, and New Zealand Architectural History fields.

DESIGN

At a time of increasing disciplinary specialisation the ability to work tactically across disciplines is key. Marks creative work has included holistic design of Landscape and Urban Environments, Sculpture, Exhibitions, Installations, Interiors, and Furniture. It is most often design led or focused, and is interdisciplinary to achieve applied, integrated design outcomes with individuals, communities, colleagues, craftspeople, clients and students.