Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Awards pivot on clever design
‘‘Good things take time’’ is an old adage that rings true for a Nelson beachside home, after it won its architects recognition for a 12-year renovation.
Tahunanui House, by Irving Smith Architects, won one of the four awards given to the firm in the Nelson Marlborough region’s Te Ka¯ hui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects awards for 2021.
The project incorporated two main stages and many smaller moves to optimise the family home.
‘‘This family home is full of personality and life, and has been cleverly lengthened and reconfigured to create a lightfilled, welcoming refuge,’’ the judges’ citation said.
‘‘A new entry provides privacy by removing the previous pathway past bedrooms, while glazing and skylights from secondary living spaces cue the circulation route.
‘‘ The expansion and contraction of space ensures there is room for everyone to connect, while also allowing for retreat.
‘‘This is a clever, beautiful response which reflects the close relationship between architect and client.’’
Another Irving Smith Architects project, Feather House, in the hills above Nelson, won in the residential housing section, alongside Nelson’s Collingwood Street House by Jerram Tocker Barron
Architects, and Pivot House by Borrmeister Architects in Marlborough.
Feather House is described as ‘‘a gregarious home’’, ‘‘the result of a close collaboration between the architects and builders, who also happened to be the clients’’.
‘‘This modestly sized home, situated on an impressive, elevated site above Nelson, has a kitchen hub at its centre and tapered ends that feather out to external spaces.
‘‘Living areas are oriented for different times of day, wind directions, sun, and offer a choice between expansive view or cosy retreat.
Judges described Pivot House in Marlborough as a ‘‘refined example of suburban living’’ that takes advantage of the sun.
‘‘Pivoting around an open kitchen, this home’s internal areas are spacious, engaging and designed to harness both light and ventilation from all available aspects.
‘‘One can easily see how the inhabitants might move through the home as the day begins, enjoying morning light on the front deck and tending to the vege garden, before retreating from the heat of the day, then entertaining into the evening.’’
The winner of the Enduring Architecture section is sure to be controversial – Nelson’s central city Civic House.
The judges contrasted the 1983 building, designed by Ministry of Works architect John Rowe in the mid-1970s, with others in the CBD which they described as ‘‘bland commercial developments and tired older buildings’’.
The Nelson Tasman Hospice building, by Irving Smith
Full list of winners
Commercial Architecture
Bragato Research Winery by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects
Enduring Architecture
Civic House (1983) by the Ministry of Works (architect John Rowe) and Athfield Architects
Falcon Brae Villa by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects CPR HQ in Blenheim by Rural Workshop Architecture
Pivot House by Borrmeister Architects Feather House by Irving Smith Architects Collingwood Street House by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects
Hospitality
Housing
Housing – Alterations and Additions
Tahunanui House by Irving Smith Architects
Nelson Tasman Hospice by Irving Smith Architects Mayfair Arts and Culture Centre in Kaiko¯ura by Irving Smith Architects. Mayfair Arts and Culture Centre also won the Resene Colour Award for its candy-pink facade.
Public Architecture
Small Project Architecture
Tahunanui Lions Toilet Block by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects Kaiko¯ ura Highway Public Amenities by WSP Architecture
The Te Ka¯hui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects local awards, in association with Resene and APL, run between April 28 and May 26.
Architects, won in the public architecture category, alongside Kaiko¯ura’s Mayfair Arts and Culture Centre, which also took out the Resene Colour Award.