Entranceway earns overseas award
An ambitious school entranceway that doubles as a tool for learning about sustainable eating has earned an international architecture award.
The visually striking structure at Onehunga Primary School was conceived by architecture student Melanie Pau as part of her masters studies at the University of Auckland.
The ingenious lattice-like creation attracted the eye of judges for the 2013 Bentley Student Design Award.
It is the first time the prestigious global prize as been won by New Zealanders.
The prize-winning plywood entranceway incorporates edible plants and information displays, with the idea that children, waiting parents and passersby can learn about how to grow food.
The Central Leader first spoke with Miss Pau in July 2012, ahead of the entranceway’s construction.
Miss Pau said one of the aims of the design was to involve the community.
‘‘It’s quite an easy thing to put together because it’s made up of a kitset of parts and it involves this whole social aspect. I wanted the community to get involved with the building process.’’
The modular system consisted of 50 plywood pieces cut on the university’s hi-tech milling machines, all designed to slot together easily.
This simple assembly process allowed members of the community to be involved in construction.
It took more than a month to cut and prepare the project’s plywood elements, but only 12 hours for volunteers to assemble them.
Principal Mavis Moodie says the entranceway will help raise the street profile of the school, which had been lacking real definition.
A second stage of the project at Onehunga Primary School will be completed later this year.
Created by School of Architecture and Planning masters students Yusef Patel and Sam Wood, it will feature two shelters where parents and children can wait.
Miss Pau, Mr Patel and Mr Panovski were presented with the award earlier this month at a ceremony at the Auckland Art Gallery.
The award includes a cash prize of US$2000.