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Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects

Name: Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects
Address: Level 1, 276 Wakefield Street, Wellington, 6011, NZ
Telephone: +6443850038

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Registered architects in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch & Wānaka.

Helping clients with their new home, beach house, farmhouse, renovation or commercial project – from apartments to film studios; interior fit-outs to master-planning. Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects is an NZIA award-winning practice with studios in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. Established in 1997, our portfolio of commercial and residential work demonstrates a strong commitment to creating beautifully crafted architecture that enhances the lives of those who experience our buildings – both inside and out.

30/10/2026

Duval O’Neill has been on site today to check on alterations to the mid-century Cashmere House, which maintain the essence of the original 1975 design by architecture practice Lucking & Vial.

Duval’s approach is to retain the home’s simplicity and honesty, especially the arrangement of spaces, the different volumes created by the roof, the fair-faced block veneer and the timber cladding both inside and out.

Duval says Clive Barrington Construction is busy fixing the Ashin timber linings from Hermpac by ITI , PREFA standing seam metal roofing and cladding by The Architectural Roofing Co and cedar timber internal windows by Sydenham Joinery LTD

The project holds particular significance for Duval, shaped by an early connection to both John Vial and the late Don Cowey, and enriched by the passion of clients deeply committed to honouring the home’s mid-century character.

Read an interview with Duval O’Neill about the project: hmoa.net.nz/news/christchurch-modern-cashmere

Christchurch Modern

26/10/2026

Looking back to what preceded HMOA’s O’Neill House in Mt Pleasant: the 1952 home designed by Christchurch architect Don Cowey when he was just 25 – also built by him, along with a friend.

The house was damaged beyond repair in the Christchurch earthquakes, and a new home designed by Duval O’Neill to Don’s original floor plan.

Duval’s redesign (in the last two images, by RUSSELL KLEYN ) pays tribute to the original architect. He says of the new house, “In many ways this project was an alteration – the restriction being the original house, the opportunity being the unique solutions that arose from working within restraints. I think Don would have approved, he was after all a modernist architect, a very generous man; he would have embraced it”.

Read the full story, link in bio or:
hmoa.net.nz/news/when-duval-met-don

Also find O’Neill House on our website under HOUSING

Christchurch Modern

03/10/2026

A look back at the story of HMOA Christchurch director Duval O'Neill's own home – originally designed in the 1950s by architect Don Cowey. The house was damaged beyond repair in the Christchurch earthquakes, and a new home was rebuilt to Don's original floor plan. Duval's redesign and rebuild pays tribute to the original architect and design

Don designed the original house around 1953 when he was only 25. No one could have foreseen the tragic events that were to come when Duval and Bridget O'Neill purchased the house in Mt Pleasant following a move south from Wellington. Despite the house fairing reasonably well in the February 2012 earthquake, a testament to Don's design, it was deemed uneconomic to repair. But the real tragedy was that Don Cowey lost his life in February 2012 earthquake. He was in his back garden in Redcliffs, a home he'd only recently completed, picking raspberries for Jocelyn, his wife.

Duval says of the new house, "In many ways this project was an alteration – the restriction being the original house, the opportunity being the unique solutions that arose from working within restraints. I think Don would have approved, he was after all a modernist architect, a very generous man; he would have embraced it".

At the heart of Duval's design was the desire to keep the essence of Don's house, while adapting it for contemporary living. Adding just 36 metres to the 148 sq metre plan original floor plan, the biggest shift in planning was to develop the basement into a master bedroom and ensuite with a second living area, and to connect the upper level of the house with the garden via a new timber bridge. The upstairs entry level has two bedrooms, bathroom and open plan living.

Images show the original home in the 1950s, the house just before it was demolished and Duval and Bridget's new house, designed by Duval.

www.hmoa.net.nz/news/when-duval-met-don/

27/09/2026

O’Neill House, Christchurch: a post-quake rebuild of a mid-century Don Cowey home.

On a hill site, looking to the ocean and Southern Alps, once stood HMOA Director Duval O’Neill and wife Bridget’s home, designed in the 1950s by architect Don Cowey.

Following damage from the Christchurch earthquakes, this modest house was demolished and in its place, and to a similar layout, is a brand new three-bedroom home.

At the heart of the design was the desire to keep the essence of Cowey’s house, while adapting it for contemporary living. Adding just 36 metres to the 148 sq metre plan original floor plan, the biggest shift in planning was to develop the basement into a master bedroom and ensuite with a second living area, and to connect the upper level of the house with the garden via a new timber bridge.

www.hmoa.net.nz/residential/oneill-house

28/08/2026

Happy National Poetry Day. There should always be poetry in architecture.

Thanks to our talented photographers RUSSELL KLEYN Andy Spain jackie meiring Jason Mann

hmoa.net.nz/residential

25/08/2026

Sero Tower – powering ahead on a beautiful Auckland day.

This 20-storey development is located on a large corner site close to Henderson town centre, alongside another HMOA project, Buscomb Ave Apartments.

Patterned and sculptured concrete walls and columns are prominent on the facade with a carefully curated material palette. Colourful aluminium fins and timber linings feature in the internal winter gardens; visible to passing pedestrians and fostering a sense of community.

Go to COMMERCIAL on our website to view this and other HMOA multi-unit projects. hmoa.net.nz/commercial/sero-apartments

Leehan Living

18/08/2026

Mt Pleasant House, Christchurch – simple forms touch the ground lightly allowing the landscape to pass through.

The rugged exterior of pale grey profiled steel and natural macrocarpa reinforces references to a rural vernacular.

The three-bedroom house with pool is deliberately skewed to capture the view east towards Moncks Bay and the ruins of the iconic Rapanui Rock, S**g Rock, while creating protected outdoor space.

Designed by Duval O’Neill, find this home under HOUSING on our website.

10/08/2026

Hautere House – joinery going in, and the home is really coming together now. Designed by John Melhuish, this three bedroom house is on a rural site at the foothills of the Tararuas.

The design focuses on low maintenance and energy efficiency, including a system that places all the insulation on the outside of the house.

Find it under HOUSING on the website.

26/07/2026

Congratulations to Schrödinger's Books named Bookshop of the Year for the second time! The shop’s home is in the heritage-listed 135 Jackson St, Petone, which HMOA strengthened and refurbished.

HMOA restored the front facade and five shops of this unreinforced masonry building and redesigned the building’s four apartments.

Using exposed finishes, rough brick and old timber, there is contrast between old and new. Materials link back to the original with timbers recycled where possible; existing native-timber joists have been up-cycled for kitchen joinery and floorboards reused as a floating floor in one of the apartments.

hmoa.net.nz/commercial/jackson-st

20/07/2026

Wellington office share – come and hang out with Mabel. We have room for two or three more people to share our large, sunny studio at 276 Wakefield St, Wellington.

HMOA’s first-floor studio features a lift, meeting room, bathroom with shower, shared kitchen and printer/photocopier. Our heritage building is strengthened to 100% NBS.

You might be a freelancer, contractor or small business. Get in touch with Annwyn Tobin, HMOA Practice Manager, to learn more and arrange a visit: [email protected] or phone +64 4385 0038

More info on the website: hmoa.net.nz/news/wellington-office-share-available

Address

Level 1, 276 Wakefield Street
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+6443850038

Website

http://www.hmoa.net.nz/

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