City Talks: Roger Walker

The City Talks: Roger Walker — New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal Talk is on Monday 15 May, 6pm at City Gallery Wellington.

Few figures in the history of New Zealand architecture are as synonymous with a place and time as is Roger Walker with Wellington in the 1960s and ‘70s. Roger’s buildings helped to define an era in New Zealand architecture and he is one of the few architects, along with Ian Athfield, to have received recognition in the wider culture.

Roger, a director of Wellington practice Walker Architecture & Design, has been awarded the 2016 Gold Medal — the New Zealand Institute of Architects’ premier individual honour — in recognition of an outstanding body of work.

Roger’s work challenges what people think buildings should look like. In his Whakatane airport building, his design was nearly rejected because it didn’t follow Ministry of Works policy that all regional airports should look the same in order not to confuse people. In Park Mews, Roger championed communitarian togetherness with a building that expressed individuality, rejecting the uniformity and anonymity typical of many multi residential buildings.

In awarding the Gold Medal, the NZIA noted his skilful planning, his drive and resolve in his work, and his commitment never to be bored.

“Roger keeps going, and keeps looking forward. He works as hard as he ever did, his curiosity as strong as it ever was, and his determination to respond in a meaningful way to the building challenges of our cities and suburbs remains undiminished. He is a worthy recipient of the 2016 New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal.”