experienced draftsman in Christchurch

In 2008, Christchurch draftsman/designer Jeff Mason formed Detail Consultancy Ltd. in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Jeff moved from his home town of Nelson to Christchurch in 1996 to study and acquire highly sought-after draftsmen/designer skills. In 1999 he completed his final year of the National Diploma in Architectural Technology at the Christchurch Polytechnic of Information Technology (CPIT).

Since then he has worked as an architectural draftsman and designer with a variety of firms in Nelson and Christchurch, excelling in a wide range of professional attributes and principles required in the architectural industry.

Jeff’s professional office administration attributes combined with his Architectural Technician and Computer Aided Design (CAD) qualifications enhanced his knowledge to a senior level of draftsmen’s industry experience.

Jeff obtained his Design 2 Category Building Practitioner Licence (LPB) in 2009. This recognises draftsmen/designers who have the skills and experience to design all types of residential homes and small- to medium-scale commercial buildings (generally under 10 metres in height).

In 2012, Christchurch draftsman/designer Jeff became an acknowledged Architectural Designer as a professional member of Architectural Designers New Zealand Incorporated (ADNZ). ADNZ members are specialists in building design and construction, undertaking residential and commercial projects at all stages of the construction process.

With over 15 years of industry experience, Jeff is able to provide a depth of knowledge to a range of residential and multi-use design projects through Detail Consultancy Ltd.

My connection to the whenua and my whānau traditions – especially the Māori harvesting of tītī through my Ngāi Tahu whakapapa near Rakiura (Stewart Island) – have deeply shaped the way I design. These experiences in te taiao have taught me to observe nature closely: the sun, the wind, the whenua itself. From that, I’ve learned how to design homes that not only sit well within their environment, but also keep people warm, comfortable, and connected – in ways that are efficient and sustainable.

The values I bring from my whānau into my design practice include:

• Knowing where you come from – Whakapapa: Every site has its own story. I honour that by designing in a way that respects both the land and the people connected to it.
  
  
• Working together – Whanaungatanga: My designs are centred around relationships – between whānau, between people and place, and between indoors and out. Good spaces bring people closer together.
  
  
• Caring for others – Manaakitanga: A warm, well-designed home is a way of showing care. I aim to create spaces that nurture wellbeing, dignity, and comfort.
  
  
• Planning for those who come next – Tūmanako: I think ahead – to how a space will be used in the future, and how it can support sustainable, intergenerational living.
  
  
• Carrying knowledge with humility – Pūkengatanga: My work blends professional skill with the lived knowledge passed down through my whānau. Being raised with the land has shaped not just what I do, but how I do it.

To me, architecture is more than drawing plans – it’s about weaving people, place, and purpose together into something lasting and meaningful.