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Nadia Riley, Architect, Hazkoba

"I wanted a second opinion from someone who understood this work but was not involved in my website. The rewritten story stood out because it flowed well, removed the technical noise, and even made me think about using more than one writer. This kind of storytelling can help architects see their own work through a clearer, client focused lens, which is hard to do on your own."

Before

After

The approach and the impact​

The Project

  • Client: Graeme Jacobs, Jacobs Architects

  • Location: Canterbury, New Zealand 

  • Goal: Keep technical rigor but make the story empathetic and clear

 

Before

  • Insurance, geotech, and foundation detail were front and center

  • The homeowner’s reasons to stay were underplayed

  • Benefits of the engineering weren’t obvious to a non‑engineer

​

What I did

  • Led with the why: “a place too loved to leave” (garden, privacy, one‑level living)

  • Clear path: Stay vs. move → Constraints → Practical solutions → Everyday moments → Quiet strength in the result

  • Turned tech into benefits:

    • Re‑levelable foundation → can be lifted safely from outside with minimal disruption

    • Lighter cladding/roof → suits the ground, easier care

    • One floor level → simpler, safer long‑term

  • Kept key details, used plain language

  • Kept a human touch (bay window for reading with grandkids, softer timber ceiling, flexible study)

 

What changed in the story

  • From technical notes to a calm, reassuring narrative

  • Engineering framed as safety and ease, not just detail

  • The home feels new and familiar at once

 

Why this helps architects

  • Respects complexity while helping homeowners feel informed

  • Shows care for client life as much as for structure

  • Builds trust without overselling

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