Ivan Mercep (ONZ) was born in Taumaranui in 1930. He studied architecture at the University of Auckland and worked overseas for several years, before returning to New Zealand, where he worked for Kingston, Reynolds, Thom & Allardice on various projects for Victoria University and became involved in the NZIA Auckland planning group. In 1963, Mercep co-founded JASMaD (which then became Jasmax in 1989).

Ivan continued to work within the practice as an architect until late last year. He was the lead architect on the Tuhoe Headquarters – New Zealand’s first ‘living building’.

Mercep was recognised for his services to architecture in 2008 with a New Zealand Institute of Architect’s Gold Medal.  He spoke with Herald journalist Chris Barton soon after receiving the award; read the article here.

Mercep was made an Officer of the Order of New Zealand (ONZM) in 1997; and in 2007 he received a Living Legend award from the Auckland City Council. In 2004, Auckland’s Metro Magazine nominated him as Aucklander of the Year.

Influences
Mercep’s viewing of early Selwyn churches and some of Alvar Aalto’s works led him to recognise that a human scale could be achieved, even in large spaces, by creating roof forms where hierarchical relationships are developed between the roof framing and its supporting structural components.

Primarily humanist in style, Mercep’s designs evolved further to respond to the New Zealand natural environment, which has led him and others to describe it as ‘indigenous’ also known as regionalism.

Architectural achievements
Mercep’s first major building was the University of Auckland accommodation building, International House, completed in 1970. This, along with the University Recreation Centre (1977) won Enduring Architecture awards.

He also played a lead role in the design of Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, a design which has not been without controversy.

He was a NZIA Gold Medal recipient in 2008.

To see more of Ivan Mercep’s architectural legacy, visit the Jasmax website.