Rowan Murray

Rowan is a Cato Bolam Associate and Registered Architect who leads our architecture team, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in New Zealand and the UK across residential, multi-unit, commercial and mixed-use projects.

He works with clients from the earliest feasibility and concept stages, helping establish what can realistically be achieved on a site and shaping design solutions that balance project objectives, design quality, consenting requirements, buildability and long-term value.

Rowan’s experience spans bespoke homes, alterations and remediation through to apartment buildings, multi-unit developments and commercial projects. His involvement can extend from concept and developed design through resource and building consent documentation, consultant coordination and design management, to construction and completion.

Rowan works closely with planners, surveyors, engineers and ecologists from the first sketch. Bringing these disciplines together early allows site constraints and development opportunities to help shape the design from the outset, reducing redesign and resolving issues before they become costly later in the project.

He combines strong design thinking with practical construction experience, giving him a clear understanding of how early design decisions carry through to the finished building. Rowan places particular value on getting the fundamentals right early, when decisions around the site, spaces, materials and construction can have the greatest influence on the outcome.

He believes the best architecture comes from understanding what clients genuinely need and creating buildings that work well for the people who use them, are practical to build and remain valued over time.

Outside the office, Rowan enjoys spending time with family, music and skiing.