Established in 2018, W3 is an award winning architecture practice
servicing all of Aotearoa New Zealand in residential & community buildings & interiors.
W3 are NZRAB Registered Architects and an NZIA practice member.
SAMMY HO
Director
NZ Registered Architect
Masters of Architecture (Prof.) (Hons.1)
Bachelor of Architectural Studies
Sammy brings over 15 years of exceptional professional experience, having contributed to a wide array of residential and commercial projects, with values ranging from $90,000 to $300M NZD. He is the founding director of W3, and the visionary behind the pioneering Cede concept, which has gained attention for its innovative approach to design, construction, and sustainability.
Sammy possesses a rare combination of creative artistic vision, technical expertise, and practical knowledge. He excels in translating unique, abstract concepts into tangible, functional designs, leveraging his strong skills in design, technical modelling, drawing, organisation, and communication. Combining his high-end design experience working under some of New Zealand's most renowned Architects early in his career, with his personal experiences in building and land development on economic budgets, Sammy helps his clients get most design value for money. His passion for both social and environmental sustainability is at the forefront of every design decision.
Sammy has a distinctive talent for crafting refined, elegant architecture that not only exude sophistication and timeless appeal but are also exceptionally practical and easy to construct. His ability to optimise designs for comfortable practical layouts, thermal comfort, aesthetic beauty, and functional efficiency, ensures his clients receive great value, whether they are working on luxury builds or more economically focused projects.
ANTONIA LAPWOOD
Architect Consultant
NZ Registered Architect
Masters of Architecture (Prof.) (Hons.1)
Bachelor of Architectural Studies
Antonia is a New Zealand Registered Architect with over 11 years of experience across residential, masterplanning, hospitality, sporting, healthcare, and interior projects. She began her career in architectural visualisation, developing a refined sensibility for colour, composition, and spatial atmosphere that continues to inform her work.
Having worked at leading practices in New Zealand and Sweden, Antonia translates complex design ideas into clear, well-resolved outcomes while maintaining the integrity of the original vision. Her attention to proportion, materiality, and colour creates spaces that feel balanced, composed, and enduring. Antonia is an advisory consultant to W3 and founding director of Cede.
Antonia is deeply committed to sustainability, believing architecture can create value for clients while positively impacting the environment. Her holistic approach ensures each project meets client goals and contributes to a more sustainable and resilient built environment.
AWARDS
2026 - Home of the year - Current finalist
'JACK'S HOUSE'
2025 - NZIA Auckland Architecture Award - Winner
'SO FRESH SO CLEAN'
2025 - NZ Best Design Awards - Finalist
'SO FRESH SO CLEAN'
2024 - NZIA Auckland Architecture Award - Shortlist
'HOVERING PRISM'
BACKGROUND
While working as a graduate at other architecture practices,
Sammy desired to be more creative and impactful.
This led him to start his own practice where he could create art and design architecture
in a more free and creative way.
During a working holiday in 2017 in Stockholm Sweden,
He began researching and co-creating an immersive art theatre
as part of a developer’s sustainable urban development model,
and founded W3 & W3 Collective.
During this time, he designed ourcollective.space
‘an artistic game played between our physical and digital world’.
which he prototyped the beta version with their community of artists.
Following this, Sammy was commisioned by Swedens leading developer Atrium Ljungberg,
to design the logo for their pioneering district in Sickla - Nobelberget.
Sammy now uses gamification as a tool to assist with his clients, architectural designs,
and the ongoing development of his practice.
He hopes to help improve the way we
design, document and build more sustainable buildings,
and bridge the gaps & risks between clients, consultants and contractors in Aotearoa.
His architecture is hugely inspired by his time in Sweden,
extremely practical, balanced proportions, quality materials, strong form, and tidy details.
A Lagom approach - “not too little, not too much”.
He respects and adopts their long term thinking towards relationships & sustainability.
W3 COLLECTIVE
Our Architecture practice is driven by our art.
Please click here to see more.
