Western Architecture Awards, NZIA 2010, New Zealand Buildings, Architects

Western New Zealand Architecture Awards

NZIA 2010 : New Zealand Architectural Prize Winners

15 Nov 2010

Western Architecture Awards

Courthouse and sustainable design celebrated in Western Architecture Awards

Beautifully-designed buildings created on modest budgets have been recognised in the 2010 Western Architecture Awards.

St Brigids Church:

image from NZIA

The Western Architecture Awards programme is organised and run by the New Zealand Institute of Architects and supported by Resene.

Judging panel convenor, architect Monika Puri, said that the impact of the recession had been clear.

S house:

image from NZIA

“There has been some really good and interesting architecture created on humble budgets,” she said. “There were not any grand designs but there are a lot of very well executed projects, including sleek modern homes, built using simple natural materials and that has been really interesting and exciting to see.”

Charming minimalist IPAD

images from NZIA

A breathtakingly simple IPAD at Porikapa Beach Taranaki charmed jurors who described it as beautifully-crafted, comfortable and yet incredibly minimalist.

The bach, by Architex New Zealand, a winner in the Residential Architecture – Houses category, was also praised for not intruding on its surrounding landscape.

images from NZIA

Jurors noted: “It provides protection from the elements, without curtailing appreciation of its immediate environment. Clever screens define the entrance and courtyard, also adding to geometry. The interior can be adapted to any style.”

Public Architecture winners

image from NZIA

Levin District Courthouse by Tse Architects, a winner in the Public Architecture category, was admired as a “contemporary take on a courthouse”, showing good use of materials and colours throughout and achieving an excellent balance between functionality and security.

image from NZIA

St Brigids Church and Community Centre in Feilding by Void Architecture Research Urbanism, was seen as a challenging project which had been well resolved to accommodate community facilities.

Jurors said that the tall, slender and beautifully designed campanile tower both signals the presence of the church and has become an important landmark to the community.

image from NZIA

St Mary’s School Administration Remodel in Wanganui by BSM Group Architects was praised as a low budget project which was well thought out “giving more than expected”.

image from NZIA

The Todd Energy Aquatic Centre project in New Plymouth, by Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architecture was hailed as “a brilliant resolution for a building with a design well past its use by date” reinstating the beauty of “a coastal jewel”.

Jurors said: “Playfulness has been harnessed on a grand scale, with light introduced through skylights, and acrylic panels in a way that delights users of the space.”

Artistic house among Residential Architecture winners

images from NZIA

The “artistic” S House, Oakura, also by Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects, a winner in Residential Architecture – Houses was admired for creating “an enthralling contrast between delicate and robust design components”.

Jurors said that the fine veil of cedar battens which conceal one side of the house create “a sense of mystery”. They also admired the crisp and consistent interior and “wonderful cascading steps” leading to the lawn.

image from NZIA

Managh House in Feilding by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott, also a winner in the category, caught jurors’ attention with its strong geometric forms.

They noted: “Interconnection between inside and outdoor areas is excellent, with the design capitalising on the superb rural views.”

Urban Design

images from NZIA

The Huatoki Plaza project in New Plymouth, by Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects, was the only winner in the Urban Design category.

Jurors said that “though this is a large urban space, the architects have managed to create an intimate relationship with the river, a waterway of historical importance”.

images from NZIA

The scheme includes strong, sculptural elements seen in the ramp which leads to an open amphitheatre and provides a smooth transition to the water.

Commercial Architecture winners include playful wine bar

Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects was also responsible for two of the winning projects in the Commercial Architecture category

image from NZIA

The Montrose Wine Bar in New Plymouth, was praised as a delightfully playful design that “acts like a cocoon, enveloping the visitor. Using plywood across wall and ceiling creates an intimate space, while cleverly referencing a wine barrel.”

image from NZIA

The TCC Control Room Upgrade at Stratford was described as “a perfect example of how architecture can be used to improve the culture of an organisation”.

image from NZIA

The Gonville Centre, in Wanganui, by Dalgleish Architects, which incorporates community and medical centre facilities, was also among winners in the category.

Jurors admired the meticulous detailing and innovating space planning that caters for the different health services the centre offers while providing a community space that “resolves the issues of both client and users”.

image from NZIA

The VBW Accountants Ltd – Alterations in New Plymouth, by Elliott Architects (NP), was praised for transforming an outdated, poorly functioning space into a “logical, workable office”.

Interior Architecture

image from NZIA

The NZI Palmerston North by Pelorus Architecture was the only winner in the Interior Architecture category.

Jurors said the modern, well planned office space capitalises on natural light and the introduction of colour and different materials add a playful aspect.

Winning ticket office

image from NZIA

The TSB Stadium Foyer Refurbishment – Free Standing Ticket Counter by Chapman Oulsnam Speirs Limited, was the only winner in the Small Project Architecture category.

It was described by jurors as inventive and deceptively simple, showing clever use of playful materials and vibrant colours and mobile enough to be packed away and moved to another location.

Jurors

Ms Puri, from Palmerston North, was joined on the jury architects Ian Pritchard from New Plymouth and Robert Jaunay from Wanganui. Lay juror was Manawatu Standard arts journalist Michelle Duff.

As well as visiting all shortlisted properties, the judges met with the architects and clients. The buildings were judged against a series of key criteria including their contribution to the advancement of architecture as a discipline and enhancement of the human spirit.

About the New Zealand Architecture Awards

The New Zealand Architecture Awards programme was established by the New Zealand Institute of Architects to celebrate the innovation, creativity and excellence of architectural projects nationwide.

The awards are open to all NZIA Practices, and projects can be entered into one or more of 10 categories – Public Architecture, Residential Architecture – Housing, Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, Commercial Architecture, Urban Design, Interior Architecture, Heritage, Small Project Architecture, Sustainability, and Enduring Architecture.

There is no limit to the number of awards the local jury can make in any category.

The programme has three tiers, progressing from the eight regional awards to national recognition – the New Zealand Architecture Awards – and through to the ultimate accolade, the New Zealand Architecture Medal.

All local winners become eligible for consideration for a New Zealand Architecture Award, decided by a national jury, which includes an overseas judge, in early 2011.

In May at the NZIA’s annual Gala Dinner, the finalists for the New Zealand Architecture Medal will be announced, and the winner named later in the evening. Only one New Zealand Architecture Medal is bestowed each year, in recognition of a single built work.

New Zealand Architecture Awards 2010

2010 Western Architecture Awards – Judges Citations

Commercial Architecture

Montrose Wine Bar
Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects Ltd

The form of this delightfully playful design acts like a cocoon, enveloping the visitor. Using plywood across wall and ceiling creates an intimate space, while cleverly referencing a wine barrel. The bar itself is well structured, with an eye-catching yet practical display of wine bottles, and with nice rhythm expressed between bays.

TCC Control Room Upgrade
Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects Ltd
This project is a perfect example of how architecture can be used to improve the culture of an organization. The workspace has been transformed into a modern, light-filled environment and what is a technical building maintains an industrial feel while remaining an office space. The cleverly flicked ceiling catches afternoon sun, while also creating a spacious feel.

The Gonville Centre
Dalgleish Architects Ltd
The architect’s passion is seen throughout this meticulously-detailed building. Innovative space planning caters for the different health services the centre provides, while the cultural aspects of the area are tied to the library design in a fun way. The result is a community space that resolves the issues of both client and users.

VBW Accountants Ltd. – Alterations
Elliott Architects (NP) Ltd
The architect has transformed a disjointed, poorly-functioning and outdated space into a logical, workable office. The spaces for the firms’ four separate teams can be clearly seen in the design, allowing them to work together efficiently. Splashes of colour add a welcome warmth, and a clear contemporary aesthetic.

Interior Architecture Award

NZI Palmerston North
Pelorus Architecture Limited
This modern, well-planned office space capitalises on natural light, providing an airy and very workable space for the client. The design is consistent and disciplined, with the introduction of colour and different materials adding a playful aspect. The arrangement of rooms and furniture allow for intimate spaces in an open-plan office.

Public Architecture

Levin District Courthouse
Tse Architects
This contemporary take on a courthouse shows a good use of materials and colours throughout, with natural light allowed to enter solemn courtrooms through well-placed skylights. The scale and proportion of the building compliments both its function and the immediate environment. An excellent balance was achieved between functionality and security on this complex Ministry of Justice project.

St Brigids Church and Community Centre
Void Architecture Research Urbanism
A challenging project well resolved in terms of accommodating community facilities, addressing a corner site and expressing a contemporary take on the church. The tall, slender and beautifully designed campanile not only signals the presence of the church but also become an important landmark to the community. A good balance between open spaces connecting to wider community and solitary spaces, throughout the church, has been achieved.

St Mary’s School Administration Remodel
BSM Group Architects Ltd
This low-budget project is well-thought out, giving more than expected. The new administration fits perfectly in the site, helped by a logical shift of the school entrance. There is a seamless transition between the new and existing buildings, and the interior is well-lit and welcoming, complete with delightfully subtle design touches.

Todd Energy Aquatic Centre
Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects Ltd
This is a brilliant resolution for a building with a design past its use-by-date. Playfulness has been harnessed on a grand scale, with light introduced through skylights, and acrylic panels in a way that delights users of the space. The hydroslide has been relocated from a promontory to reinstate the natural beauty of what is a coastal jewel.

Residential Architecture – House

iPAD at Porikapa Beach Taranaki
Architex New Zealand Ltd
This beautifully-crafted bach is both comfortable and incredibly minimalist, to the extent that it does not intrude on the surrounding landscape. It provides protection from the elements, without curtailing appreciation of its immediate environment. Clever screens define the entrance and courtyard, also adding to geometry. The interior can be adapted to any style.

Residential Architecture – Houses

Managh House
Designgroup Stapleton Elliott
Strong geometric forms can be seen throughout the structural patterns of this house, giving clear definition to public and private spaces. Interconnection between inside and outdoor areas is excellent, with the design capitalising on the superb rural views. Pre-cast frames on the interior are given expression but do not overwhelm, with the residential feel nicely maintained.

S House, Oakura
Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects Ltd
This artistic house creates an enthralling contrast between delicate and robust design components. A fine veil of cedar battens conceal one side of the house, creating a sense of mystery, while coarse slats unify the design of the seaside frontage. Wonderful cascading steps lead to the lawn, while the interior detail is crisp and consistent.

Small Project Architecture

TSB Stadium Foyer Refurbishment – Free Standing Ticket Counter
Chapman Oulsnam Speirs Limited
This inventive, modular design shows a clever use of playful materials and vibrant colours. It was perfect for the space, and yet mobile enough to be packed away and moved to another location. The design was deceptively simple, allowing users to move comfortably in the space and perform their tasks in the most efficient way. This is an intelligently created, effective piece of design.

Urban Design Award

Huatoki Plaza
Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects Ltd
Though this is a large urban space, the architects have managed to create an intimate relationship with the river, a waterway of historical importance. Strong, sculptural elements are seen in the ramp which leads to the open amphitheatre and provides a smooth transition to the water. Splashes of colour and vibrant light fittings give direction, and lend a playful aspect to the area.

New Zealand Architecture Awards – Regional Winners 2010

Auckland Architecture Awards – winners, 19 Oct 2010
NZIA Awards 2010-11

picture from NZIA