Stacey Farrell is a residential architect based in Queenstown, New Zealand, specialising in bespoke homes designed for the realities of alpine living.
Based in Queenstown, she brings a rare combination of local knowledge, design expertise, and construction understanding to every project.
With over 20 years of experience in the region, her work is shaped by a deep understanding of climate, landscape, and how people live in Queenstown.
From ski days and seasonal living, to vehicles, gear, and lock-and-leave flexibility.
She works with clients across New Zealand and internationally to create refined, highly considered homes that are both enduring and effortless to live in.
Stacey leads each project personally, maintaining a direct and considered approach from concept through to completion.
Her work is grounded in real-world understanding of building in Queenstown, with strong relationships across consultants, builders, and local suppliers.
This ensures projects are not only beautifully designed, but carefully resolved and delivered to a high standard.
Her design approach is centred around how people actually live.
Homes are carefully planned to support seasonal use, entertaining, privacy, and retreat with considered responses to sun, cold, wind, and long-term durability.
Materials are selected for longevity and performance, and layouts are designed to feel intuitive and calm.
Many projects are designed as lock-and-leave homes, offering simplicity and confidence for clients who divide their time between locations.
Stacey has extensive experience in high-performance residential design, including Passive House principles and advanced building systems such as SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) construction.
Her work balances sustainability, thermal performance, and long-term value - without compromising on architectural clarity or comfort.
She is a New Zealand Registered Architect (NZRAB), a member of the New Zealand Architects Co-operative (NZACS), and has served as a juror for the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA), Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ) and Colorsteel Awards.
Stacey’s work has also been featured on television, including Designing Dreams (Sky Open NZ), offering a rare insight into her design process and completed homes.
Her work is widely published and internationally recognised across architecture and design.
Selected Awards
The Black House
• Green Home of the Year - Home Magazine, 2022
• NZIA Southern Architecture Award
• Finalist - House of the Year, NZ Living Channel
The Coast House
• TIDA New Zealand Architect New Home of the Year
• NZIA Southern Architecture Award
• Resene Colour Award
• Highly Commended - Green Home of the Year, Home Magazine
• Finalist - Colorsteel Awards
• Finalist - World Architecture Network (WAN) Small Spaces Award
Home for a Winemaker
• Finalist - TIDA New Zealand Architect Designed Kitchen Awards, 2020
Unbuilt Projects
• Speargrass Flat Road - Finalist, Cavalier Bremworth Unbuilt Architecture Awards
Selected Publications
Books
• Homes for Our Time 2 - Philip Jodidio (Taschen)
• Cape to Bluff - Simon Devitt
• Big House Small House - John Walsh & Patrick Reynolds
• Small House Living - Catherine Foster
• Small Holiday Houses - Catherine Foster
• Modern Houses in Black - Susan Redman
Magazines & Media
• Wallpaper*
• The Local Project
• Home Magazine
• NZ House & Garden
• Urbis
• Architecture NZ
• Grand Designs Magazine (UK)
• NZ Life & Leisure
• Canvas Magazine
• ProDesign
• Remix
• Interior Details
Television
• Designing Dreams - Sky Open NZ (Season 2, Episode 3)
• Extreme Homes - HGTV USA