Magda is a registered architect and co-founder of Fineline Architecture, a Nelson-based practice committed to design that cares for people and planet. Trained in France and the Netherlands, she built her early career across award-winning firms in Madrid and Rotterdam before settling in Aotearoa in 2012 and joining Fearon Hay Architects. A decade in academia followed, leading programmes and publishing research on environmental strategies in architectural education. In 2021 she founded Fineline, bringing refined design and genuine environmental care to projects of every scale. Beyond the studio, she has served as NZIA branch chair and started the local A+W chapter.
Showcase
Garden House
Perched on top of a hill, this new high-performance home is designed for the wellbeing of its occupants: humans and plants alike. Our clients' passion for plants inspired an integrated greenhouse. A space for growing, retreating, and passively heating the home in winter.
A timber superstructure forms the backbone of the house, locking away carbon while creating a warm interior. Wherever possible, we're reusing materials from the existing house: timber floors, internal linings, and joinery, giving them a second life and reducing waste.
This project reflects a commitment to health & wellbeing through high-performance detailing, low-carbon materials, thoughtful reuse, and spaces that support life.
A timber superstructure forms the backbone of the house, locking away carbon while creating a warm interior. Wherever possible, we're reusing materials from the existing house: timber floors, internal linings, and joinery, giving them a second life and reducing waste.
This project reflects a commitment to health & wellbeing through high-performance detailing, low-carbon materials, thoughtful reuse, and spaces that support life.
Year of Completition
2026
Type
New residential (under construction)
Role
Design Architect
The Cloud
Barely seen from the outside, the cloud is a discreet extension that adds functionality to a busy family home. The wardrobe’s two integrated reeded glass panels reveal a light and calm ensuite to retreat for a moment from the outside world.
Year of Completition
2023
Type
Addition
Role
Design Architect
Sharlands House
A thoughtful update shaped by light, natural materials, and the rhythms of home life. Timber-lined spaces offer room to gather or retreat. The kitchen catches late afternoon sun, the bathroom feels like a quiet escape. Everything sits easy. Modernised but familiar, as if it's always been here.
Winner 2026 NZIA Nelson & Marlborough Architecture Awards
Winner 2026 NZIA Nelson & Marlborough Architecture Awards
Year of Completition
2025
Type
Alteration
Role
Design Architect
In Association With
Join our newsletter
