Design: We've hired a Interior Designer!!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of Martin Currie to team Forturo. Martin will be starting in an official capacity as a Interior Designer from Monday 10th August 2009.

Name: Martin Currie
Position: Interior Designer
Background: Martin has been working in the commercial building sector in New Zealand and overseas in Australia and South East Asia. Over the past 20 years he has been involved in different types of commercial interiors and architecture, ranging from corporate offices, retail, shopping malls, restaurants, bars, hotels, resorts, apartments, condominiums and gaming areas for clubs.

He has worked overseas for a total of 12 years. Spending 9 years in Sydney designing corporate offices, restaurants, and bars and gaming areas for sports clubs. Then living in Bangkok for a further 3 years designing restaurants, apartments, condominiums, resorts and hotels in Thailand and around different areas of South East Asia.

With Martin's wealth of knowledge and experience we wish him the best of luck and hope he enjoys working with us.

Design: Free rewards incentive plan launched

We run what we believe is one of the best free rewards schemes around. Its open to everyone – no sign up or memberships required and its not exclusive to current and past Forturo customers, in fact its simply just a lot of free stuff which we give to you. All you have to do is refer your friends, family or colleagues to us and once they have signed up you are immediately eligible for free vouchers up to the value of $500 – per referral.

How does it work

If you refer someone to our company and they sign up for architectural design and/or draughting services you will receive gift vouchers from $50.00- $500.00 depending on the size of their project. To give you an example if the person you refer signs up and requires $4,000 in design fees at the completion of the work you will receive $200 in vouchers of your choice.

Architectural Design and/or Draughting fees

• $1,000 in fees = $50 voucher
• $2,000 in fees = $100 voucher
• $4,000 in fees = $200 voucher
• $6,000 in fees = $300 voucher
• $8,000 in fees = $400 voucher
• $10,000 in fees = $500 voucher

One last point – don’t worry we have not simply added on the cost of your free voucher to the fees of your friends or family – we have made various deals with other companies as well as making allowances in our advertising and promotional budgets to ensure that the real cost of the vouchers comes directly from us, Forturo and is our way of saying thanks. So have a look at the voucher value table below and then go shopping at the many companies listed below – have fun!!

Note: Please visit our free rewards page to see the complete list of vouchers that are available.

Design: Flying with the Helipro Paraparaumu team

Wednesday 3rd June 2009 and it was a fantastic morning for flying. Having moved the planes out of the hanger (after admiring the impressive timber construction of the the building), Simon took off on the 90 min Helipro flight to cover the mornings road and traffic hotspots for the radio station More FM. While pilots were concentrating on the job in hand the Forturo team were far to busy looking at the amazing views, pointing out all the local Forturo job sites as well as finding their own houses.

Its simply stunning to look at your local area which you know so well from a different perspective - everything looks so much simpler, and somehow more elegant than you are used to. You can see how the roads and tracks join different areas together and you will be amazed at how much of your town you have never seen before - I could have spent hours up there just looking around and discovering new things. - Simon Law, Forturo Director

The flight plan took us along State Highway 1 from the Paraparaumu airport and down into the gorge past Johnsonville, we then headed across to the Hutt Valley before returning and following the highway all the way into Wellington where we were kept in a holding pattern for about 10 minutes. Seeing the Westpac stadium and the Beehive along with all the other high rise buildings and the Botanical Gardens from the air is something everyone should experience.

The route back took us over the Inlet at Mana (we did circle the office a few times to make sure everyone was working hard). Once the final live broadcast was completed for More FM radio station we flew around the Kapiti island - the straight cliff faces are dramatic to say the least on the far side of the island, so much different from what you can see from the main land. When the pilot takes you at low level and in close to the baron cliff face and then you pop up and fly over the lush bush land the transformation is stunning. Now that work was out the way (if that's what you call it), it was time to have a bit of fun, all be it at our expense. We climbed up and then we dived down and for a few moments we experienced weightlessness - have a look on youtube and you will see many videos of this. Its a strange feeling at first but after a few goes at it you get strangely comfortable with having your legs and arms hanging loose and free in the air - more of that please.Then it was time to land and grab a coffee and have a laugh about the whole mornings experience.

This was a flight that was thoroughly exhilarating. I have been on a few small planes in the past but never have I been on a traffic spotting plane and witnessed a live radio broadcast. To see the fields, the houses, roads and the beaches for yourself rather than in a photograph is just stunning - add to this the easy going nature of the pilots you have a very unique and winning combination. We are extremely grateful to Helipro for organising this event for us and we look forward to flying with you chaps many, many more times in the near future.

Design: Position vacant for a Office/Design Junior

This position is for the Design company. We are at the awkward stage of a business where we have enough work for the next 8 - 12 months or so but are running at full capacity. As a result we don't have enough time to do other things such as expanding the business and reaching out and developing new ideas and discovering new markets for the business to move into.

I need someone who can come in with energy, enthusiasm, a great work ethic, fun and reliable and someone with a real willingness and eagerness to get ahead - someone we can teach and train up.

We will give you a huge amount of time in helping you get up to speed with the basics of our company and we will take the time to show you the ropes properly. In return we would expect a high level of dedication in taking on-board what we are showing you. As you progress so will your level of responsibility and the level of reward you will receive. The long term goal for the right person is to run a division of Forturo, expand and develop the business in a new direction and to help us and advise us in other aspects of the Forturo network.

But lets not get head of ourselves - our immediate needs are to find the right person to come on - board and work with us. Experience does not really count, age does not count, qualifications do not count. Great if you do have it all but great as well if you don't - to us the right attitude is the single most important quality in a potential employee / partner.

What you need to do:

For your application this is what we require from you;

1. One sort paragraph as to how you see your role with Forturo Design to be, what would be a good job title for now and for say in 3 years time - don't worry there are no wrong answers here
2. Tell us what you know of Forturo as a company - again one short paragraph and there are still no wrong answers
3. Your details - the standard stuff
4. A personal statement - as long or as short as you want to make it. You can say anything about anything!!
   

Submissions:

1. Please make your submission via email to: simon@forturo.co.nz
2. Please ensure your submission is presented on a Word document or Adobe PDF (not just plain email text)
3. Try and keep any images you may want to include small in file size if possible
4. You may also send a hard copy of your submission to:

ATTN: Simon Law
Forturo Design Ltd,
59 Pope Street, Camborne, Porirua,
Wellington

We are aiming to appointment the right person within 4 - 6 weeks so please try and get your submissions to us ASAP.

One last thing (my personal statement):

Just remember to be original and be yourself - be confident and don't be scared to try something new. Good Luck...

Design: Forturo design beats off local competition

Jan 2009, a residential property in The Anchorage, Whitby burns to the ground leaving behind nothing but the foundations.  The story of the Fortuin's reached the local papers and most local residents are familiar with this sad and unfortunate story. But the Fortuins are going to rebuild bigger and better than before. A number of local firms were approached but Forturo Design came out as winners for the new house commission. The design was based on track record, resources available, time, fees and value for money as well as an instant relationship between designer and client.

The land surveys have been completed and the design stage is under way - as this project has attracted a lot of local attention we will endeavour to display various sketch designs as the process unfolds - so watch this space.

 

Build: Forturo now offers property inspections

Note: Please visit our contact page if you would like to ask us a question about this, or any of the other services we offer.

The build company is made up of experienced trades people with years of practical knowledge and on-site experience - there is nothing they have not seen before. So if you're considering taking advantage of the low interest rates and below average property prices you should first obtain a property inspection and report. We look at the whole building and the entire section, we highlight problem areas and potential problem areas and let you know what you're letting yourself into before you buy. But we don't stop there, unlike other property inspection companies, we use our design and building knowledge to suggest solutions to any existing issues the property may have and to come up with ways to improve the property as well as working out realistic budget estimates for all works. The idea is to give you - the potential purchaser the most comprehensive picture BEFORE you make the move which could potentially cost you thousands of dollars in unforeseen works.

 

Media: Forturo to feature in the Wellington Today

The feature on Forturo will be running in the March edition of the Wellington Today newspaper which will be on the stands March 15th. But if you cant wait until then below is a sneak preview.

Download the PDF Version [1 page, 5MB]

Media: Forturo makes the Wellington Today

The interviews have been completed and the pictures have been agreed, so pick up a copy of the March edition of Wellington Today and read what others are saying about Forturo. If you miss it we will post a link from March onwards.

 

Build: Trends developing in the construction industry

This seems to be one of a number of new trends developing in the construction industry since the emergence of the so called global credit crunch. Property developers that not so long ago were building new homes are now buying up existing houses and converting them into rental properties aimed squarely at the young professionals rather than the traditional family groups. Taking advantage of the very low interest rates and the lower than average property prices and then renting out at least 3 to 4 bedrooms to young professionals seems to be the formula that gives the best financial returns in today's market.

If you would like further information on investments and financial matters contact Martin Duncan - (04) 491 2076 or www.martinduncan.co.nz.

 

Design: Green design

When you think green design you don't generally expect it to be a cutting edge design - but why not? When you think green design and then conduct research into the subject you are bombarded with the latest thing and the should and should nots of green design which all seem to conflict from once source to another. Forturo has been given the opportunity to design what we think will be considered a landmark property which will work on all levels - functionality, form, services, economics and environmental. We have taken up the challenge and will be constructing a new residential home which will put into action the techniques and principle of green design but blending it into a cutting edge modern design, and will deliver this to the clients budget. A bold statement? Yes but we feel its important that someone takes the lead and then makes available to everyone else (clients and other design studios) the results of how successful the various green design principles have been in the real world.

This is one of the most exciting projects we have been involved with so watch this space for further future updates.

Note: Please visit our news archives page if you would like to see news articles older than 6 months.