b'over the rainbowResene ReseneHavoc FOMOResene ReseneBright Spark Picton BlueId always wanted to make my own calls and decisions and I was motivated to make it work, he says. The benefits, aside from design and big picture project decisions, are being able to surf whenever there are good waves, the flexibility to design and build things around the home and seeing my daughters whenmore about Maxthey get home from school. The big challenge, especially in the current industry climate, is getting enough work to sustain a solo practice. I feel there is never a perfect time to go out on your own, so you just have to hustle to make it work. His dream designer dinner datesFor many architects, being your own client can be the trickiestIve always appreciated the work of Australian job you ever tackle. When Max decided to design a home thatarchitect Peter Stutchbury. Throw in Le Corbusier would fit the needs of his young, growing family, he approached ittoo (his colours were on point), and to make it a party, as an exercise in multi-functional space-efficient living and cost- having Kanye West in attendance would be fun. West effective materiality confined to a small footprint and a tightmay be a bit of a unique individual in certain ways, but budgetbut he had more than just his own family in mind. Maxhe pushes the boundaries in many forms of design. It viewed it as an experiment in the big-picture viability of offeringwouldnt be a dull dinner.a similar type of housing stock as an accessible, compact yetA dream project to designfunctional alternative to typical standard housing. Probably a well-resourced brief for a sustainable coastal Ibelievethereisasenseofgeneralpublicopinionthatbeach house or surf retreat in the northern West Coast architects are only really accessible to the well-off. However, itsbush, with trusting and adventurous clients. Id love my belief that through good design practice, an architecturally- the opportunity to bring some ideas into reality in an Despiteatraumaticstart,Maxstayedonfor12yearsatdesigned home which responds to its specific site and environmentenvironment I enjoy so much.Sheppard and Rout Architects, where his career flourished. Itshould and could be accessible to everyone. was a great place to work as a junior because the type of work wasSituated on an open and exposed corner site, the modestHis best career adviceso varied, he says. The work I enjoyed the most was residentialthree-bedroom home is split into two stepped levels, mimickingTo take pride in a set of drawings, regardless of the scale projects and the odd larger public project. The standouts wouldthe contours of the sandhill it sits on. The structures offsetof project.A well-documented and detailed building on be the award-winning ones: puke Thermal Pools, Quarry Hillgable forms are reminiscent of historic baches that can be foundpaper is always going to result in a more refined building in House in Queenstown, Moncks Spur House in Redcliffs and ainthearea,completewithcoastally-appropriatemonolithicreality, rather than one left up to chance.small timber bach we did in Hanmer Springs. cladding and a subdued beachy colour palette. An oversizedHis favourite Resene colourAfter achieving his registration, Max had been working onhall runs through the centre of the dwelling, allowing efficientResene Bright Spark. Love a good yellow to brighten up a few design concepts for friends and family in his spare time.accesstoeachroom,spacetodisplayartworkandavisualyour day. Its the colour we used for our garage floor slab As you might expect, coming home from a busy day of designand auditory connection from the living area through to theand the laundry walls, ceiling and doors.work only to resume working on side projects in the eveningchildrens bedroom level. Finely finished radiata pine plywood became draining. Rather than keep burning the candle at bothstained in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt and finished in ReseneResene Colorwood ends, Max decided to go all in and founded his own practice,Aquaclear satin lends a sophisticated air that standard plywoodRock SaltMax Warren Architect (MWA). simply cant compare with.blackwhitemag.com 37'