Mountain landscape with green slopes, fog, and snow-capped peaks in the background.

QUEENSTOWN ARCHITECT

Architecture & design shaped by landscape, lifestyle, & legacy

Queenstown is unlike anywhere else

The dramatic landscapes, alpine climate, and vibrant community demand architecture that responds with both sensitivity and strength. At Saaba Architects, we create spaces that reflect their place - balancing refined design with curiosity and intention, and always grounded in how people live, work, and connect here.

We work across residential and bespoke commercial projects in the region, shaping homes, retreats, offices, retail, hospitality, and cultural spaces that are as enduring as they are engaging.

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR PROJECT

Featured Queenstown Projects

  • SAABA Residential Architecture firm Queenstown home new build

    Wanaka Cottage

    A modest footprint designed for all seasons - this family cottage pairs natural materials with modern lines to create a cosy, cabin-like retreat.

  • Minimalist open-concept kitchen and dining area with light wood finishes, white walls, and large windows, featuring a dining table with chairs, a vase with branches, and a kitchen island with barstools.

    Queenstown Peninsula House

    Set against breathtaking lake views, this renovation delivers fresh, contemporary interiors and a new outdoor living hub with pool, dining, and fire.

Ready to shape your project together?

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Led by experience, guided by collaboration

Saaba Architects was founded in 2024 by Creative Director Kate Kerr, a New Zealand Registered Architect and member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. While the practice is emerging, Kate brings extensive experience gained across New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.

She has worked with leading studios including Fearon Hay, Ponting Fitzgerald, Jasmax, and Piercy & Company (UK), where she led projects ranging from bespoke homes to large-scale commercial developments. Highlights include The Jellicoe at London’s Coal Drops Yard precinct, an award-winning heritage office extension in Shoreditch, and 538 K Road — New Zealand’s largest mass timber building with a 5 Green Star rating.

“Her design offered a fresh, modern reinterpretation that still felt true to the original character of the house.”

Kate brought ideas to the project that we hadn’t even considered, and they completely transformed the way we saw our home. The design for the space feels brighter, functional, and beautiful. We can’t wait to live in it once completed.


— Queenstown Peninsula House

Why work with Saaba Architects in Queenstown?

  • Responsive design

    We listen first, ensuring every project reflects its people, place, and purpose.

    SAABA Architects & Interiors - Sketch of a city street with tall buildings and church domes.

  • Breadth of expertise

    From new builds and renovations to heritage, hospitality & bespoke commercial developments, we combine creative design thinking with technical expertise.

    A person writing on a piece of paper with a black marker, holding a photograph and sitting at a white table.

  • Cohesive outcomes

    Architecture & interiors are considered together, delivering spaces that are layered, timeless, and tailored.

    Close-up view of a brown upholstered sofa on a white textured carpet.

  • Future-focused thinking

    As members of the New Zealand Green Building Council, sustainability is a foundation, not a feature of our work.

    A scenic landscape view of rolling brown hills leading down to a calm body of water with islands and mountains in the background, under a cloudy sky.

  • Clarity & confidence

    From budgets to timelines, we keep the process transparent so you feel informed and reassured at every step.

    Close-up of autumn leaves and small orange berries on a bush, with sunlight and shadow.
Two people discussing house floor plans at a table.
A scenic view of snow-capped mountains with clouds surrounding their peaks, a calm body of water in the foreground, and a boat leaving a trail on the water.

This breadth of experience shapes Saaba’s approach today:

Design that is refined yet approachable, balancing creativity with technical rigour, and always grounded in collaboration. 

For Queenstown clients, it means your project is guided by proven expertise and a team that knows how to deliver thoughtful, enduring spaces in even the most challenging environments.

Future-focused projects for Queenstown’s lifestyle & economy

Future-focused projects for Queenstown’s lifestyle & economy

FAQ’s

  • We’re an Auckland-based architecture and interior design practice, but our work extends across New Zealand — including Queenstown and Central Otago.

    We have delivered projects in the region and understand Queenstown’s unique alpine environment, from the climate to the materials that perform best in it.

    We approach our Queenstown projects with a deep respect for their setting, ensuring each design feels grounded in the landscape while enhancing the lifestyle and purpose of those who use it.

  • Yes — our residential expertise spans everything from designing new holiday homes and family retreats to reimagining existing properties through renovations and addition

  • Absolutely. We work across bespoke offices, hospitality, and cultural spaces - balancing identity, craft, and functionality to create environments that support both people and businesse

  • Many of our Queenstown clients live elsewhere or split their time. We use a clear, collaborative approach with regular updates, digital presentations, and site visits as needed to keep projects running smoothly from concept to completion.

  • Our specialties span architecture and interior design for new builds, renovation and additions, heritage projects, retail, hospitality, and cultural spaces, and bespoke commercial developments.

Ready to bring your Queenstown project to life?

We collaborate with clients across Queenstown and Central Otago to create homes and spaces that are refined, enduring, and deeply personal.

START THE CONVERSATION