Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) announced the winners of this year’s New Zealand Architecture Awards with a celebration in Christchurch, along with satellite events in each of the Institute’s regional branches.

Jury convenor Thomson said, “The jury was impressed by the standard of work presented to us. Many of the projects we visited seem particularly relevant in a year in which we’ve all had time to consider what’s important in our own lives, what matters in our communities, and what is special about our country.”

“On our tour,” he continued, “we encountered a determination to realise the potential of architectural projects, whether the jobs are big or small, and whether the clients are individuals or organisations.”

Adaptive reuse of existing buildings was an encouraging theme, according to the judges. “It was great to see clients and architects making use of existing buildings as well as making the most of spectacular sites,” Thomson said. “There was plenty of innovation and imagination on display, and an evident commitment to often-lengthy engagement with clients and communities.”

“Projects also revealed considerable wit, and a sheer enjoyment in the art and craft of making buildings.”

See the full list of winning projects below, and pick up a copy of the Nov/Dec issue of Architecture NZ for expanded coverage on the 2020 New Zealand Architecture Awards.

Four President’s Awards were also given out on the night along with the naming of Bill Alington as a Distinguished Fellow of the NZIA.

JOHN SCOTT AWARD FOR PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE:

Hihiaua Cultural Centre by Moller Architects

Judges said: “The Hihiaua Cultural Centre asks not what architecture is in terms of materiality, but what architecture can do in terms of social value. Embracing the adjoining industrial estate vernacular, this whare as warehouse incorporates a Whare Toi, for Māori arts and craft, and a Whare Waka, for canoe restoration. The latter space belies the project’s identity by eschewing Western notions of floor in favour of (earthen) ground.”

Read the full commentary and project description here…

TED MCCOY AWARD FOR EDUCATION:

Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiōrea Redevelopment by Jasmax

Judges said: “Can you place 1400 students in one large space and conduct 40 different classes at once? In the main building of this rebuilt high school, evidently you can, and that is not to mention the activities in the library and a slightly separated gymnasium. The architects have responded to the challenges of the Innovative Learning Environment, and the process of cultural and community engagement, with a high degree of skill, craft and patience.”

Read the full commentary and project description here…

SIR IAN ATHFIELD AWARD FOR HOUSING:

Toto Whare by Bull O’Sullivan Architecture

Judges said: “From the moment one approaches Toto Whare, it is evident that a warm welcome will be extended, not just to an Awards jury visit, but as an each and every day ritual. To start with, the orange corrugated cladding foregrounds the house from its more reticent neighbours. A golden welcome mat then blazes out ‘Kia Ora’ and, near the entry, an extensive whānau photo gallery illustrates whakapapa and serves as a reminder that a whare and its whānau are inseparable.”

Read the full commentary and project description here…

SIR MILES WARREN AWARD FOR COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE:

Nelson Airport Terminal by Studio Pacific Architecture

Judges said: “When the building is approached by either air or road, the first view of it is of the striking, folded-timber roofscape with mountains in the background. It is a bold design gesture that signifies a brave vision for Nelson and for sustainable airports. As one enters the terminal, tall, bare timber columns draw the gaze up towards the faceted, triangulated timber ceiling and underside of the roofscape: a composition that showcases local expertise in timber fabrication.”

Read the full commentary and project description here…

COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE AWARDS:

Bathroom Pavilion by Architype

Judges said: “The history of architecture has always privileged rooms of grandeur: the chamber, the parlour, the library, the hall. The modest toilet never got a sniff in. With the Bathroom Pavilion in Ashburton, architecture’s nether region becomes a space that affords the traveller not merely with convenience but, more surprisingly, with delight. Offering respite from the cooped-up confinement of the commute, the pavilion is entered not from the rear but frontally and centrally, with the arrival promenade organised so that one’s vista terminates on a grazing alpaca. A fritted glazed canopy means business can be transacted practically alfresco upon one of the impressive Japanese techno-pans.”

Fabric Warehouse 2 by Fearon Hay Architects

Judges said: “This expertly handled project balances contrasting elements with ease: it is simultaneously both large and small, and precious and non-precious, and uses refined detailing with unrefined materials. The massive volumes of the warehouse are composed against the delicacy of the office, workshop and art exhibition areas. The transition zone between the two scales is supported with carefully placed slices of light, as are the main areas in the office interior. Materials such as aluminium, steel and polycarbonate are detailed with precision, maintaining an unpretentious overall tone while, at the same time, providing an unexpected grandeur not typical of raw materials.”

ENDURING ARCHITECTURE AWARDS:

Jellicoe Towers (1968) by Allan Wild

Judges said: “Impossibly slim and elegant – somewhat like its architect – Jellicoe Towers has been an imposing presence on the Wellington skyline for the last 50 years. Allan Wild (1927–2019) was, for many years, Dean of the University of Auckland School of Architecture and his built output was limited but, like Jellicoe Towers, all of his buildings were perfectly formed and are worthy of close inspection. One generous apartment per floor provides Jellicoe Towers’ residents with outstanding views and daylight. The story is told of the architect standing atop the just-completed 18-storey tower during the Wahine Storm of 1968 when winds reached 185 kilometres per hour – a somewhat novel way of testing structural stiffness. Architect and building both survived.”

St James Church (1963) by Len Hoogerbrug

Judges said: “St James Church in Hastings demonstrates the power and particularity of the architectural section. As a cut through the body (of a building), the section provides a specific way of imagining space. Reading the building from the exterior, a vertiginous clerestory leads one to believe that the interior volume is semi-gabled and asymmetric. While this is true of the space around the side-lit and shadowed sanctuary, the addition of a subjugated lean-to ‘transept’ yields symmetry to the nave and brings to the architecture a soaring Gothic quality. With this deployment of gable as arch, Len Hoogerbrug (1929–2019) renders a New Zealand contribution to ecclesiastical space.”

EDUCATION ARCHITECTURE AWARD:

University of Waikato Tauranga CBD Campus by Jasmax

Judges said: “Even with the new paradigm of Zoom teaching, we still need physical teaching spaces. This project is a game-changing university campus building that gathers diverse faculties spread around the city into a new purpose-built home. The design was carried out in full partnership with Ngāi Tamarāwaho and artist Whare Thompson, and integrated with Tauranga Council’s streetscape works. The clear articulation of the building layout, the integration of artworks, both internally and externally, and the heroic interior spaces and exterior courtyard/atea have created an inspirational learning environment and a clear basis for the future growth of the campus.”

HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE AWARD:

Hawke’s Bay Opera House by Dave Pearson Architects

Judges said: “The rich, deep reds of the restored auditorium of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House improve an already incredible theatre space: one of New Zealand’s most significant. It was designed by Henry Eli White (1876–1952), who was also architect of the St James Theatres in Wellington and Auckland. The almost-monochromatic approach adds luxury and confidently nods to the history of the theatre, but is not a replica of earlier colour schemes. Extensive seismic upgrading has been discreetly incorporated into the existing fabric of the fully refurbished building. A new raised roof is confidently handled on the Spanish Mission exterior. At more than 100 years old, this survivor of the 1931 earthquake has been restored with additional splendour.”

INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD:

SOF Hotel (Taiwan) by Fearon Hay Architects

Judges said: “Despite having what Tripadvisor refers to as a ‘post-apocalyptic façade, which looks like it could collapse at any time’, this project for a boutique backpackers’ hotel offers a sophisticated and novel account of architecture as a building site. In doing so, it challenges the current paradigm of renovation as sustainability. Does ‘making good’ really contribute towards an ‘architecture of good intentions’? In the spirit of Gordon Matta-Clark’s work on dilapidated buildings, the architects of SOF Hotel have rethought ecological culture. Doing less potentially yields more; the project suggests that architects might collaborate with – rather than defend against – natural processes of degradation.”

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AWARD:

Wyborn Capital by Bureaux

Judges said: “A palette of subtle materials has been skilfully curated to create a beautiful space in which to work. Every detail is carefully considered, from the numerous bespoke furniture pieces to the seamless closure of the automatic moveable timber wall panels. Common materials are re-imagined and used in new combinations with aged brass, waxed-paper cupboard fronts and various marbles. The detailing creates a sense of richness and utmost delight at every junction. The architects have created a space where art and function meld seamlessly.”

HOUSING AWARDS:

Bowden House by Belinda George Architects and Mandeno Design in association

Judges said: “As architects, we are rightly enamoured of geometry – the circle, the square, the diamond, the octagonal plan – but regular forms can bring their own problems. At this house, the possible tyranny of the perfect semicircle is neatly subverted by the casualness of the spaces created under the sheltering roof. As with a series of timber tents, movement between the bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas involves using the exterior deck. Deliberately turning sideways to the view, the house wraps around a circular court, enclosed by the house and a stand of trees, to create a relaxed-yet-ordered environment for holiday gatherings.”

10x10 House by Patchwork Architecture

Judges said: “Defiantly perched on a Wellington cliff, this is a playful and optimistic house. A rigorous grid was the starting point for efficiency and spatial order, and a platform for creative planning, which removed the hallway and opened up the interior to admit light and air and enable family connectivity. Generous amounts of liveable exterior area have been carved out of the site and stairs are barely noticeable. The rooftop terrace, with its private ‘bus stop’ and splash of yellow, celebrates the fun in architecture. Courageously, the house is tied to the city view rather than the site; the ground becomes a backdrop for living. The 10x10 house is an inspirational, functional and hugely enjoyable family home.”

Waiheke by Patterson Associates

Judges said: “Waiheke – the building, not the island – is the house manifest as roof. Consider a 60-metre glulam timber structure which is nearly as long as Eden Park’s rugby paddock is wide; this massive overhead roof slab levitates so as to hover cunningly a ‘mere’ three metres above the single level of naturally lit living. Pause, too, in order to appreciate that the roof depth is the same as the height of the living space below – solid compressing void. Imagine, then, how this roof oversails the interior by five metres to create a ‘panodrama’, engulfing Motutapu, Rangitoto and the Motuihe channel. Needless to say, the entry is through the roof.”

Parnell House by Stevens Lawson Architects

Judges said: “Like the Smithson’s 1956 House of the Future, the plan form of the Parnell House attempts to liberate domestic facility from the prosaic orthogonal demands of the house through a flowing sequence of functionally fitted, pocket spaces. The interior scenography of the ground floor is particularly striking, its passages reminiscent of a Greek island townscape. One meanders through the small ‘streets’ of the house, guided by smooth, white, curved walls which seamlessly engulf the senses. Maybe it’s the smells wafting from the oven-bakery, or the tinkering sounds from the grand piano-lounge, or the chit-chat and clatter emanating from the dining-taverna…”

#3 by Studio2 Architects

Judges said: “An architect’s own house can sometimes fall into the trap of being too overtly a testing ground for a myriad of ideas. But, on this private garden site, we have a skilful, liveable house that reflects the character of its owner/architect – ordered, flexible and cheerful. The various spaces – parents’ wing, children’s tower and common living spaces – all have their own characters and materiality but are brought together in an effortless and accommodating fashion, enlivened by a love of technical trickery expressed in the glazing and shading devices. One can feel the ease of slipping down the driveway to this secluded encampment and finding any number of excuses to work from home in the morning.”

HOUSING – ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS AWARDS:

Lake Hayes Cottage by Anna-Marie Chin Architects

Judges said: “A strong client–architect partnership underlies the design and construction of this seamless, well-proportioned addition to an existing (relocated) cottage. Subtle shifts from old to new run through the entire project. Found materials have been revitalised and (re)composed alongside new elements, yielding a texturally rich result that defies any time-frame definition. The single device that connects them all is a glass-and-timber bridge, which straddles a creek and also seems to straddle time. Minimalist detailing confirms the bridge’s contemporary construction, yet the feel of its interior is so established that it suggests it could be the oldest ‘found object’ on the site. This addition is a beautiful pause between related worlds.”

Sawtooth Apartment by Sayes Studio

Judges said: “This addition to an existing commercial base reveals an excellent understanding and control of light. An unconventional section provides a simple solution on a site where northern light is not available, by bringing both eastern and western light into the interior of this small apartment addition. The exterior expression of the sawtooth form seems to extend and unfold unexpectedly into a lowered central section, providing light from two directions to each main space. The qualities expressed in the section have then translated with ease into the plan, with a concentration of service areas to the core, living areas to each end, and wedge forms elegantly containing the exposed deck edges.”

HOUSING – MULTI UNIT AWARDS:

SKHY by Cheshire Architects

Judges said: “In this project, the real estate agent’s advice on apartment sizes – always small – has been rendered moot by the simple expedient of not asking for it. Developer and architect just decided between themselves: ‘You would like a 96m² studio, sir? Then you shall have one.’ An existing 14-level office building was stripped back to its concrete frame and re-purposed with a mix of generous apartments, combining the industrial aesthetic of exposed concrete with finely crafted cabinetry and service box insertions. The project was then extended by the addition of three lower mixed-use, commercial and residential buildings that front a busy arterial road and form a sheltered courtyard for residents and the public. SKHY is an excellent example of successful urban renewal.”

The Grounds by Peddle Thorp

Judges said: “The Grounds is a thoughtfully articulated answer to the challenge of low-cost, medium-density housing in Auckland, and proves that well-designed housing can elevate a neighbourhood and build a sense of community. The street frontage determines a strong-yet-welcoming relationship with the public realm. The generous use and carefully considered grain and depth of screens are carefully balanced to offer privacy while establishing a shared identity that engenders community pride. The building uses New Zealand timber for the extensive and iconic batten screens, CLT construction and low-cost timber stairs. The Grounds is an attractive proposition that sets a benchmark for low-carbon, low-cost, medium-density living for the next generation.”

PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE AWARDS:

The Chapel of St. Peter by Stevens Lawson Architects

Judges said: “This chapel for a boys’ high school provides a spiritual moment of refreshing lightness and softness. Guests are welcomed in and then experience a spatial compression at the point of entry. Once they are inside the main assembly space, the architecture slowly reveals itself. A sharp overhead skylight leads the eye to the altar and the inverted cross of light, referencing St Peter’s upside-down crucifixion. Light and materials are used with utmost skill and restraint to highlight dramatically the smaller reconciliation spaces and the altar, in contrast to the gentleness of the general lighting. Surfaces seemingly bend to move light softly around the space. The Chapel of St Peter achieves a remarkable spiritual sense through simple and subtle moves that impart maximum effect and meaning.”

Naenae Regional Bowling Club by Tennent Brown Architects

Judges said: “If Santiago Calatrava ever came to Naenae, he would struggle to execute the affordable, lightweight, tensile structural gymnastics bestowed upon the Naenae Regional Bowling Club. In what may be the nation’s best bowls facility, the former outdoor greens remain but are now augmented by an international-sized, 2,500m2 covered rink. Yet it is not only the Instagram moment of the square-based, arced xanadome, with its techno-oculus, that delights; the less-heroic ancillary clubhouse is an exemplar of socially valuable architecture, with its bistro, RSA and healthcare centre all enjoying their rub of the green.”

SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE AWARDS:

Abodo Showcase Cardrona by Assembly Architects

Judges said: “Despite all the signifiers of a house, this showroom for a timber structural and cladding supplier is, instead, a beautifully crafted display box of the best qualities of its product. Precision and control are demonstrated across the fully clad timber exterior screen, as well as the expressed internal structural framing. The building itself confirms the promise that this timber product is strong and will not warp and, in doing so, fulfils its intention as a showcase for the manufacturer. Experimentation with the various products extends through the fit-out and floorings, creating an overall effect of a precise and elegant container, inside and out. When is a house not a house? When it is a showroom.”

Longbush Ecosanctuary Welcome Shelter by Pac Studio

Judges said: “Feeling as though it has sprung up organically through time, the shelter is, in fact, the product of generous donations of labour (88 volunteers) and materials (88 suppliers), made to promote the stewardship of our natural environment. In the tradition of the picturesque, an elegant canopy floats over three rough-hewn boxes, carefully positioned to frame views. There is a certain frisson in the contrast of the techniques and tastes of leisured English travellers of the 18th century and an environmental restoration programme for the untamed New Zealand bush, which helps elevate this small collection of structures into something quite special and timeless.”

Point Wells Cricket Club by Pac Studio

Judges said: “Point Wells Cricket Club shows there is still a place for architectural follies in the world, albeit this pavilion and its attendant field have some social purpose, since it is made available to local school children for their matches. Small but perfectly formed, this uniformly red building with a royal blue interior, adorned with flags and bunting, plays along with the charming absurdity of the activities carried out in green and white on the field it addresses. Detailing is precise without being precious and every aspect has been carefully thought through and resolved in an unassuming manner. Were colour awards given at the national level, this surely is a project that would be dignified by such recognition.”

The New Zealand Architecture Awards is a programme run by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects and has been proudly supported by Resene for the last 30 years.