About
Claudia Lapp
Dipl. Ing. FH, Architektin (Germany)
Licensed Building Practitioner
Claudia has had a lifelong interest in sustainability, which was an integral part of her studies and professional work.
She studied architecture in Germany, graduating from the Fachhochschule Rheinland-Pfalz, Abteilung Trier (an architecture school similar to UNITEC Auckland) in Trier, Germany in 1985, with a thesis on ecological living quarters for a city.
Claudia also studied for one year Interior Design at the same school, and completed a one year correspondence course of Building Biology and Ecology at the ‘Institut fuer Baubiologie & Oekologie’ (Institute of Building Biology & Ecology) in 1985.
From 1985 to 1992 she worked in different German architectural practices, in each practice her work focused on ecological building/sustainable design.
In March 1989 Claudia registered with the ‘Architektenkammer NRW’ (Institute of Architects, Chamber of Architects North-Rhine Westphalia), entitling her to use the professional designation “Architect” in North-Rhine Westphalia.
In 1994 Claudia immigrated to NZ to live on Waiheke Island. After running her architectural practice for 10 years she joined with her partner, Ole Toft in 2004, to trade as Lapp & Toft Architecture Ltd.
Through the NZRAB Equivalency Assessment her studies & work experience have been acknowledged as equivalent to the BArch obtained at a NZ University. Claudia is also a Licensed Building Practitioner under the Department of Building & Housing licensing scheme for the building industry.
Ole Toft
B. Arch (hons)
Building Surveyor
Adv. Tr. Cert. (Carpentry)
Ole studied Architecture at the University of Auckland, graduating in 2003.
Prior to this he worked as a building contractor for 10 years, mostly on new residential & alterations to Villas.
Additional to experience in the construction industry he studied professional photography at Unitec, Auckland and worked briefly as a freelance photographer.
Before commencing practice as Lapp & Toft Architecture he worked for an established Architect’s practice.
Since the end of 2009 Ole has been working in Remedial Design for ‘leaky buildings’.
His expertise in this area – additionally to all other Architectural Services – encompasses: Property Inspections & Reports, Weather-tightness Surveys, Enclosure Design, Contract Administration & Remedial Works Monitoring.
Find out more about our services and how we work.
We offer a one hour free consultation for new clients. Contact us to make an appointment.
