About Arcline - Architectural Design Company
With over 30 years of hands-on building and development experience, we bring practical insight to every project—ensuring your dream becomes reality with expert design, planning, and consenting.
No two projects are the same. Whether it’s a home or a commercial building, we carefully study each site and client to design a structure that responds to its environment and your specific needs.
We begin with a pencil, then move to the computer, designing every project in full 3D—minimizing costly structural changes during the build.
Your wants, needs, and aspirations are translated into creative, precise, and fully detailed plans—the essential first step toward bringing your dream project to life.
We’re committed to making your journey enjoyable and stress-free. Friendly, open, and approachable, we back our process with decades of practical experience—exactly what your project needs.
Our History
Our Design Director, Alan Simpkin, founded his Design & Build company in 1993, originally aiming to build just four homes per year to support the design side of the business.
That plan quickly evolved—within the first two years, the team had completed 44 homes, and the momentum continued. Over the next decade, they averaged 20 homes annually.
In 2003, the focus shifted exclusively to architectural design, and the company has been dedicated to creating exceptional architecture ever since.
Alan’s sons, Tristan and Trent, have since joined the team, bringing with them a combined 25 years of experience. Their involvement in property development alongside architecture means their practical design and construction expertise is embedded in every Arcline project.
Why Arcline
Experienced. Passionate. Creative. Hands-on expertise you can trust.
At Arcline Architecture, we combine decades of experience in both building and design to bring your vision to life with creative, practical, and buildable solutions.
Our team is made up of passionate professionals who are committed to delivering the very best for every client. We work collaboratively to design spaces that are functional, beautiful, and tailored to your needs.
We care deeply about your project. With open communication and a friendly approach, we ensure your experience is smooth, enjoyable, and results in a home or building that reflects exactly what you envisioned. We welcome a challenge and are relentless in finding smart solutions to complex design problems—always aiming for the best possible outcome.
Our experience spans the country, with projects in Kerikeri, the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Waiheke Island, Coromandel, Manawatu, Marlborough, the Tasman District, and Christchurch. With over 20 years of experience in residential, commercial, educational, and eco-home design, we bring versatility and depth to every project.
Free 6 Part Email Series:
'Designing Your Home'
Our Team
Alan Simpkin
Founder/Design Director
Tristan Simpkin
Director & Project Manager
STEVE ERAI
Senior Architectural Designer
Trent Simpkin
General Manager
Nick Smith
Architectural Designer
MICHIEL COERTZEN
Senior Architectural Technician
Louise Collett
Project Support & Administration
BILLIE ANDERSON
Accounts Support
TESS ALLEN
Accounts & Project Management Support
Jason Misilei
Senior Architectural Designer
In mid-2017 the build and fit out of the new Arcline architectural design studio was completed, greatly transforming the working spaces and collaboration of the in-house Studio Team. Our experience in designing commercial buildings greatly assisted in the design and choice of key elements in the office spaces, as our goal was to effectively portray the Studio as a potential small home design.
We created a modern office environment with the use of blacks, whites, greys and timber. The exterior features a stunning blend of black cladding and roofing with a touch of cedar. Feedback from clients and visitors has been overwhelming with many requests to design homes with the exact same style, inside and out.
We endeavour to be a great place to work, and a great place to visit. We’d love you to visit us, so please feel free!
Arcline SPONSORSHIPS
Arcline Architecture are proud to support various groups, trusts, charities and events that help our wider community in New Zealand. We believe fully in each entity we sponsor and realise that our small contribution can help save lives, educate Kiwi’s and make New Zealand a great place to live.
Organisations we sponsor include:
Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) – Rescue Helicopter – Silver Sponsor
Rapid Relief Team (RRT) NZ
St John New Zealand
Big Buddy
Hospice
Womens Refuge
View our other Sponsorships here.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Prices differ per project, but here’s a guide on our Architectural design fees. When you approach an architectural design company, you’ll usually have an overall project budget in mind, and are seeking something unique and custom as opposed to an off-the-shelf home, so it’s important to consider the cost of your design into your budget.
There is a difference between architects and architectural designers. Arcline is made up of both, but we are primarily architectural designers, which offer a slightly wider skillset than a draughtsman. Architects are typically more expensive, having studied for many years and often sit in different niches of the industry, residential or commercial. Architectural designers work across a wide range of projects, and from paper drawing to 3D rendering, have the ability to think from your perspective, budget and builder! Read more about the difference here.
Yes, and we’ve even done projects in Australia! Although we’re based in Northland, we can design for you no matter where you are based, our Kumeu Residence project in rural West Auckland, and Whanganui Residence are both great examples of this.
Our designers are with you every step of the process, from visiting sites to see understand the shape and size of your site, to modelling your dream home on architectural software, architecture designers are creatives.
What differentiates us is our background in building & development. Alan comes from 20 years of being a builder, and the rest of our team have had various experience in both building and property development. We pride ourselves on meeting your budget and design expectations.
This is critical and something many designers just don’t care enough about. We’re not afraid to have the difficult discussions at the beginning of a project if we don’t think your budget and design ideas will align, and our background and connection with building helps us keep a good handle on what your project is going to cost and stops us ‘overdesigning’ your project.
Because every home needs a building consent, and possibly even a resource consent, to then be signed off by the local council. And this means that a full set of compliant plans and specifications are needed for your local Council to be able to sign the project off, and also for the builder to know what to build, and how to build it (what materials, nails, screws, etc!)