Meet the Team

Barry Nix
(N.Z.C.Arch.D.)
Architectural Designer/Partner

Barry spent his formative years in Rongotea and attended Queen Elizabeth College. A requirement to study for a New Zealand Certificate in Architectural Draughting (N.Z.C.Arch.D.) took Barry to Wellington Polytechnic, where he qualified in 1972.

During that period he worked for Dudley Roy & Tulloch Architects, colonial housing specialists. After receiving his qualifiction, Barry worked principally under Sir Michael Fowler at Caulder Fowler & Styles Architects, where he gained experience in large country and city house designs.

Returning to Palmerston North in 1973 to marry Pauline, Barry worked for one year in the Palmerston North office of Wellington-based architects David Lough & Assoc. on major commercial projects. For the next eleven years, Barry was a member of the design & build team at McMillan & Lockwood construction company, working mainly in the commercial field, designing as well as producing working drawings.

Since 1985, Barry was employed at Clark Cantlon & Co. Architects, again being heavily involved in design and the production of construction drawings for many commercial and industrial projects. With the closure of this practice in 1995, Barry & Karen took the opportunity to form Barrakuda Designs.

Since 1986 Barry has gained considerable experience and efficiency in computer-aided draughting (CAD). Following his return to Palmerston North in 1973, Barry was also kept extremely busy working from home producing many house designs for the private domestic market.

Barry is a professional member of Architectural Designers New Zealand Inc.

Karen Smith
(BBSc. BArch.)
Architectural Designer/Partner

Karen grew up in Pahiatua and attended Tararua College. She graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 1988 with a Bachelor of Building Science (BBSc.) and a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch.).

Karen worked as an Assistant Project Manager for Farrell Management Pty Ltd (an Australian-based project management company), out of their Wellington office, before returning to Palmerston North to work as a Graduate Architect for ProArch Architects and Campbell Architects, mainly on small commercial & residential projects.

After buying a one-way ticket and a backpack, Karen set off to explore the USA, UK and Europe, travelling solo for two years and visiting many of the architectural masterpieces left behind by Gaudi, Le Corbusier, van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Stirling, MacIntosh and many others.

Returning to Palmerston North in 1992, Karen found a temporary position as a Graduate Architect for Clark Cantlon & Co. Architects, and then moved onto a position with the Regulatory Building Services Department of Palmerston North City Council.

In 1994 she married Max and returned to Clark Cantlon & Co. Architects, where she worked for eighteen months on large scale commercial and industrial projects. During this time Karen graduated from a Manawatu Polytechnic course in computer-aided draughting (CAD). With the closure of this practice in 1995, Barry & Karen took the opportunity to form Barrakuda Designs.

Karen was also a ICI/Dulux Colour Consultant for five years, working on a number of exterior & interior colour schemes.

Karen is a professional member of Architectural Designers New Zealand Inc.

Samantha Roberts
Architectural Technician

Sam grew up in Pahiatua and attended Tararua College. She commenced work at Barrakuda Designs after leaving school, and she's been here ever since :-)

Anne Cousins
Accounts/Administration

Anne has been carrying out administration duties at Barrakuda Designs for three years, and keeps the staff on their toes! (especially when it comes to timesheets :-) )