The future of Kemp House is in good hands
In an industry filled with complexity, it’s refreshing to meet a team that thrives on it. Meet Projectus. —a construction project management team lead by Luka Obradovic Obradovic that has been quietly delivering some of Aotearoa’s most meaningful work since 2018. From restoration of the privately owned Bulgari Building on Auckland’s Queen Street to their latest win—leading the restoration of Aotearoa’s oldest standing building Kemp House in Kerikeri—their expertise lies in navigating the tricky and the treasured.
Founded by Croatian born Obradovic who gave his business a strong Roman gladiator inspired name, Projectus is built on one simple idea: technical excellence meets cultural respect. Providing a service beyond coordinating trades and timelines, and helping to protect taonga for future generations.
Kemp House, dates back to 1822 and still stands in its original spot beneath Kororipo Pā, under the protection of Ngāpuhi Rangatira Hongi Hika. This simple home holds an extraordinary story. A site steeped in Māori and early colonial history, the house sits at the heart of Kerikeri’s cultural landscape.
When Heritage New Zealand issued a tender by invite to manage the building’s preservation, Projectus threw everything into their bid—and won.
“It’s the most effort I’ve ever put into a proposal,” says Luka. “But we didn’t just talk process—we laid out a full plan, how to deliver it, who to involve, how to make sure Kemp House is still standing—and still telling its story—a hundred years from now.”
The project is being rolled out in stages, with structural reinforcements to the roof and chimneys, delicate remediation of heritage cladding and joinery, and careful collaboration with local iwi & custodians. It’s not a redesign. It’s about preservation and bringing strength where there’s weakness, ensuring the building can keep welcoming visitors for generations.
For Projectus, this isn’t just another job—it’s a responsibility and that means making sure every nail, beam and decision respects the story it supports. What’s next? “More of this. More retrofit. More adaptive reuse. More heritage.”
With Kemp House in their hands, one of Aotearoa’s most important buildings is being set up to stand strong for the next hundred years.