A Forté-led conversation on specifying materials for longevity

In an industry often driven by timelines and budgets, the question of what endures is rarely given space. Yet material decisions remain some of the most consequential choices in any project, shaping not only performance, but how buildings age, feel and are understood over time.

In an industry often driven by timelines and budgets, the question of what endures is rarely given space. Yet material decisions remain some of the most consequential choices in any project, shaping not only performance, but how buildings age, feel and are understood over time.

This May, ArchiPro After 5 returns in partnership with Forté, with a discussion centred on a single question: what does it actually mean to choose a material for life?

Held at the Forté Experience Centre in Grey Lynn, the evening brings together a panel spanning architecture, design and making. Each offers a different lens on how materials are specified, detailed and lived with over time.

To explore this shift in practice, the conversation brings together a panel spanning architecture, design and making, each offering a distinct perspective on how materials are specified and resolved.

David Ponting | Ponting Fitzgerald Architects
With over three decades in practice, Ponting’s work is grounded in the idea that well-considered architecture deepens over time. His perspective brings a long-term view to material selection and how buildings endure.

Buster Caldwell | Wonder Group
Caldwell approaches design through identity and locality, creating spaces with strong narrative and presence. His work considers how material choices contribute to the character and longevity of a project.

Annabel Smart | Studio 11:11
Smart’s work is defined by restraint and material sensitivity, focusing on how finishes, palettes and detailing shape the everyday experience of interior spaces.

Gareth Curd | Bespoke Timber Design
Originally trained as a boat builder, Curd brings a craft-led perspective to timber, where precision and material understanding inform both form and durability.

Together, the discussion reflects a broader shift in how specification is being approached. Materials are no longer selected solely for appearance or cost, but for their provenance, durability and the role they play in a building’s lifecycle.

This shift also reflects changing expectations. Longevity, sustainability and authenticity are becoming central to the brief, requiring a more deliberate approach to selection. The idea of “choosing for life” introduces a different set of criteria, one that extends beyond immediate outcomes to consider long-term impact.

ArchiPro AfterFive creates a space for these conversations to unfold outside of project constraints. By bringing together practitioners across disciplines, they allow for a more open exchange of ideas grounded in real-world experience.

In this context, the evening is less about definitive answers and more about reframing the question itself. What does it mean for a material to endure, and how should that influence the decisions made today?

Explore Forté on ArchiPro and see how materials are being specified across contemporary projects where longevity and performance are key considerations. Join the conversation and register for ArchiPro AfterFive on Thursday 7 May at the Forté Experience Centre in Grey Lynn, Auckland, and hear directly from the panel on what it means to choose materials that endure.