Our Team
Darni O’Connor
Co-Founder“I’m interested in how spaces make people feel, and whether they genuinely support the way people move through the world, individually and together. For me, good design is both empathetic and precise.”
Darni specialises in human-centred design that places people at the heart of every project. She brings extensive experience across education, residential, commercial, community and heritage projects. This breadth allows her to adapt her approach across scales and contexts.
Her work is guided by a strong respect for place, heritage and community values, and a belief that thoughtful design should support people in meaningful, practical ways.
Shannon Lenihan
Co-Founder“I’m interested in the small moments. How a kitchen works at the start of a busy day. How light enters a room in the afternoon. How a space supports people without demanding attention.”
Shannon’s work spans residential, hospitality, education, cultural and commercial projects, with a particular focus on how spaces are experienced in everyday life.
She brings architectural rigour to projects that benefit from thoughtful, detail-driven design. She moves fluidly between architecture and interiors, paying close attention to light, flow, materiality and spatial relationships, and believes these decisions have a direct impact on calmness, wellbeing and connection.
What drives us
Each project brings people, skills, and resources together to deliver
practical, thoughtful architecture and interiors. We know our craft well,
enjoy collaborating across disciplines, and draw on 23 years
of combined, hands-on design experience.
We take genuine joy in creating life-driven, well-crafted spaces.
Archwest is a bold, female-led architectural studio reshaping the
design narrative in Whanganui and beyond. Founded by two designers
who believe great design comes from collaboration, not competition,
Archwest blends fresh thinking with deep community roots to create
spaces that enrich lives and challenge convention.
Guided by values of environmental responsibility, integrity, and strong
relationships, we champion a human-first, instinctive approach to architecture.
