With more than twenty years’ experience as a registered architect, Murphy has worked across a range of sectors and project typologies, his portfolio spanning interior architecture through to landscape; but he says his passion lies in urban design projects of civic and public nature that give back to their local community.

“I was drawn to Woods Bagot as a local Aotearoa studio backed up with the confidence and reputation of a leading global organisation,” says Murphy. “I was most impressed by the city-defining projects the team has done in Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre in the wake of the 2011 earthquake, and their ongoing urban regeneration work on the Symphony Centre, Aotea Square.”

“Since its inception in 2021, we’ve described our Auckland studio as a 150-year-old start-up,” says outgoing Studio Chair Andy Gentry. “Joe makes an excellent addition to the small but mighty team, delivering intimate local knowledge with the collective resources and support of the global studio.”

Most recently, Murphy was a principal at Isthmus Group in Auckland, where he was instrumental in the design and delivery of Middlemore Kaumātua build-to-rent housing, adding an additional 124 apartments for Waipareira Trust.

Previously, Murphy worked with Australasian studio Warren and Mahoney, where he contributed on various later living projects and multi-residential apartment complexes. With demonstrated history in affordable housing and retirement living, Murphy’s approach is motivated by the accessibility and wellbeing of the end user. Murphy is a firm advocate for the value of inclusive amenity to engender strong social connections and a sense of community.

Gentry says the new Auckland leadership will help to bolster the studio’s local identity and continue to build on their portfolio of significant Aotearoa projects.

“Joe’s diverse portfolio of work and his connection with Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland City make him a natural choice to head the Auckland studio,” says Gentry. “His interest in inclusive design, user wellbeing and community connectivity align perfectly with the global studio’s people-centric design ethos.”

“My career highlights to date have been working closely with client and project partners to problem-solve and build meaningful, lasting relationships,” says Murphy. “One of the most exciting parts of the job for me is about embedding that cultural narrative in a project.

“As non-indigenous practitioners, we can’t always do that ourselves, so it’s about bringing others into the conversation and letting them hold the pencil. It’s important to get a different cultural perspective to incorporate it into the design for a more holistic understanding of wellness and belonging.”

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Isla Sutherland
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