Masterspec
01 Apr 2025
Document Referencing and Scheduling with eCert
Our editor team has updated all Masterspec work sections which have references to environmental documents. Where environmental document references...
27 Mar 2025
Update Manager New Features
The new Update Manager features are designed to boost productivity when applying changes to updated work sections. Simplify work section updates with...
03 Mar 2025
CIL is Now Accepting Product Carbon Data for the National Embodied Carbon Data Repository for Construction.
CIL Masterspec is now accepting carbon information in the form of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) or Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) from...
06 Jan 2025
Carbon 2025 and Beyond: Building a More Sustainable Future for NZ Construction
In July 2024, Construction Information Ltd (CIL) and the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) announced a partnership to develop a...
01 Nov 2024
Introducing eCert: A Game-Changing Tool for Sustainable Construction
As the New Zealand construction industry increasingly focuses on sustainability and carbon reduction, there is a growing need for tools that can help...
26 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Manawa House by Cube Architecture
"Masterspec has been an indispensable tool for our project Manawa House. During the specification, Masterspec streamlined our entire specification...
26 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Ligar Bay Bach by Young Architects
"Masterspec was used for providing a detailed, fully customised, specification as part of our comprehensive project documentation for the Ligar Bay...
25 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Hilltop Home by Jon McAlpine Architecture
“Masterspec is a critical component in our studio. Its user-friendly platform and regular product specification updates, keep us constantly on the...
06 Aug 2024
NZ Building Code Changes: Type 1 Domestic Smoke Alarms
In Masterspec NOTES June 2024, we provided commentary around the changes to the NZ Building Code relating to domestic smoke alarms.
18 Jul 2024
New Industry Initiative to Reduce Carbon Emissions of New Zealand Buildings
A new industry-led initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of Aotearoa New Zealand’s buildings, which contribute up to 20% of the national...
04 Jul 2024
Masterspec Announces New MasterKey4 for Revit 2025 Enhancements
Streamlined Workflows and Improved Collaboration with MasterKey4. We are excited to announce the latest update to MasterKey4 for Revit 2025, designed...
04 Jun 2024
Building Code Updates 2023-2024
This month we have published amendments in response to building code updates. The 2023-24 NZBC changes were published by MBIE on the 2 November 2023,...
04 Jun 2024
NZ Building Code Changes: Type 1 Domestic Smoke Alarms
From November 2023 the Building Code Acceptable Solutions for Protection from Fire (C/AS1 and C/AS2) have been amended to make Type 1 interconnected...
05 Apr 2024
Understanding Project Scope and How to Specify Window Systems
It is vital that Movement and Deflection criteria are correctly defined in the Specification. We cannot over emphasize the importance of correctly...
04 Apr 2024
MBIE Building Consent System Review - Overview and Update
In July 2022, MBIE commenced a review of the building consent system, as part of the Building System Reforms to improve the consenting process. The...
30 Nov 2023
NZCIC Guidelines Responsibility Schedule Goes Digital
The new online tool enables real-time collaboration among multiple stakeholders, fostering efficiency and innovation in construction processes.
10 Nov 2023
BCA Requests to Modify Manufacturers Technical Content
mDocs allows the specifier to quickly access the latest version of a document uploaded by the manufacturer or supplier. Importantly, these detailed...
27 Sep 2023
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Taharoto Lane by X Studio Architects
The development will have 19 units, including studio, office, and retail space. The residential units will have balconies with views of the city...
27 Sep 2023
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Soaring Box House by Turner Road Architecture
The house’s unique design fits into the rural landscape. The house has a cantilevered structure and a soaring angular volume. The interior design is...
13 Sep 2023
Hallmark Group Opens Up About BPIR
Recently, Hallmark Group turned to Masterspec, a trusted name in compliance solutions, for guidance on their BPIR for fire doors. In this article, we...

Efficiency Meets Affordability: Fabricate Architecture's Winning Formula with Masterspec + MasterKey

17 Nov 2021

Fabricate Architecture is an emerging, design-driven studio that is focused on delivering unique, functional, and affordable homes. Led by Hamish Stirrat, this small but personable practice has their clients' needs at heart.

As Fabricate Architecture is focused on bringing beautiful designs to everyday people, the greatest challenge is managing the cost and time involved. This creative practice invests in understanding the needs of their client, so they can get it right from the start. By doing this, they ensure they present the best possible result, which of course is the building their clients have dreamed of within their budget.

The solution to meeting budgets is efficiency. When designing these practical bespoke homes, Stirrat has come to realise that a winning formula not only saves time, but money as well. To help him achieve high quality designs for less, he does a few things. First, he ensures he engages the builder early in the process. Secondly, when he begins drawing the design, he also makes a start on the specification documentation. MasterKey, Masterspec’s keynoting tool makes this process easy.

“Custom keynotes are our favourite feature as we have the ability to reduce complex information in our drawings down to simple annotations, just exactly how we want it. Using MasterKey has enabled us to link our documentations set together and now they seamlessly talk to each other. This helps our builders out.”

- Hamish Stirrat | Fabricate Architecture

The best part about Stirrat using this intuitive tool is that it simplifies the design process and manages the practices risk. Instead of leaving the specification document to the end of the design as an afterthought, Stirrat can save time by making it part of the initial conversations. This also assists him with speedy council approval.

The result of Stirrat’s winning formula (early adoption of builder + MasterKey + Specification) is happy clients with a beautiful, well-designed home.

Bonus tip from Hamish Stirrat:

“Keep up with Masterspec updates, as they are always making changes to the spec content. This ensures that we are up to date and getting the most out of all of the available tools.”

Visit Fabricate Architecture's website to learn more about their projects. Interested in managing your projects with Masterspec or MasterKey? Reach out to us on 09 631 7044 or gen@masterspec.co.nz. 

Featured systems:

Masterspec BasicBASIC

The architectural specification system for residential, low-level retail and smaller commercial construction.

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Masterspec InteriorsMasterKey for Revit

Dynamically connect your Revit project drawings with your Masterspec specification document with ease.

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