Our Creative Minds
Meet The Team

We are an experienced team of designers with a deep commitment to innovation. Our team has been instrumental in delivering some of New Zealand’s first mass timber buildings, projects that mark a significant step forward in the country’s sustainable architectural landscape. Through a thoughtful integration of design, form, and context, our work has garnered international recognition, reflecting both the design excellence and forward thinking ethos that underpin everything we do.

Our approach integrates sustainable DfMA principles with bespoke, context driven design, resulting in award winning architecture that endures and inspires.

  • Rachel Mechen
    Rachel Mechen

    Rachel Mechen

    Rachel has been flexing her timber expertise (and actual muscles) at RM Designs since 2014. Equal parts timber whisperer and gym warrior, she can design a mass timber building in her sleep and deadlift a glulam beam. When she's not specifying planks, she's probably perfecting planks, literal ones.

  • Sophie Stent
    Sophie Stent

    Sophie Stent

    Since 2012, Soph has been RM Designs’ cheerful powerhouse and technical expert across all fields. Known for her sunny attitude and top tier technical skills, She’s tackled just about everything under the sun. When she’s not climbing the design ladder, you’ll find her scaling actual rocks with a grin.

  • Laura Goddard
    Laura Goddard

    Laura Goddard

    Laura Goddard, with RM Designs since 2013, is the queen of diaries, order, and being 30 minutes early, she probably schedules her morning coffee. She handles every project's interiors with a creative eye for detail, creating spaces that are as thoughtfully curated as her perfectly planned schedule.

  • Bernie O'Fagan
    Bernie O'Fagan

    Bernie O'Fagan

    Bernie, an ultra-marathon runner who’s probably already run 100 miles by the time you read this, co-founded RM Designs with Alan Raine in 1998. When he’s not sprinting through marathons or creating deadlines, he’s sipping gin and pretending it’s part of his hydration plan. Bernie’s stamina for both running and socialising with clients is legendary and proves that sometimes the best bosses are the ones who aren’t afraid to be a little… unconventional.

  • Jodie White
    Jodie White

    Jodie White

    Jodie White, RM Designs’ Office Overlord since 2014, keeps the place running like a well oiled machine, when she’s not exploring new places with the jetboat. With her superhuman organization skills and knack for tackling the unexpected with humour, she’s the go to for keeping the office in line (or out of line).

  • Laura McLeod
    Laura McLeod

    Laura McLeod

    Laura McLeod has been with RM Designs since 2015, delivering marketing magic and the occasional questionable photoshopping. When she’s not working miracles to hit deadlines, she’s outdoors, looking after the farmyard family, or convincing trees to join her latest photo-editing adventure. Fresh air, fresh ideas, and some slightly dodgy edits!

  • Pixie
    Pixie

    Pixie

    Pixie, though small in size, she makes her presence known with a constant, enthusiastic bark that keeps everyone on their toes. Pixie’s not exactly a social butterfly, in fact the only person she truly adores is Bernie. Despite her selective affections, Pixie brings a unique energy to the office, showing that even small voices can make a big impact!

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