Studio
AW Architects is an award-winning architecture and interior design studio, established in 2013 by Registered Architect Andrew Watson.
Based in Christchurch, our team works across the South Island and New Zealand on residential, commercial, cultural, heritage and masterplanning projects. From compact cottages to multi-unit developments and civic buildings, each project is a personal response to its brief, respectful of context, environment and culture.
The practice balances creativity with technical expertise. In our St Asaph Street studio, itself a rescued building, collaboration and curiosity underpin a body of work recognised with NZIA and Best Design Awards. Whether revitalising heritage landmarks, shaping community facilities or designing sustainable homes in remarkable landscapes, we approach every project with care, clarity and craft.
AW Architects is a registered practice with Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.
Contact
- Phone
- +64 3 390 0488
- Studio
- 190 St Asaph Street
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch 8011, New Zealand - @awarchitects.nz
Questions
Where is AW Architects based?
Our studio is at 190 St Asaph Street in central Ōtautahi Christchurch. We work across Canterbury and the wider South Island, including Banks Peninsula, Selwyn, North Canterbury, the West Coast and Queenstown Lakes.
What kinds of projects does AW Architects design?
New houses and alterations, prefabricated homes, multi-unit housing and masterplans, commercial and mixed-use buildings, workplace and hospitality interiors, heritage adaptive reuse, and community and public buildings.
Is AW Architects a registered practice?
Yes. AW Architects is a registered practice with Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA), led by Registered Architect Andrew Watson.
What awards has AW Architects won?
Andrew Watson's work has won NZIA Canterbury Architecture Awards in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026, an NZIA Southern Architecture Award in 2021, Gold, Silver and Bronze Best Design Awards, and a 2015 Interior Award. See the awards page for every citation.
Does AW Architects work with council consenting?
Yes. We prepare resource and building consent documentation and work regularly with Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council, as well as other South Island councils.
How do I start a project with AW Architects?
Email studio@awarchitects.co.nz or call +64 3 390 0488 with a short description of your site, brief and timing. We'll arrange an initial conversation.