Region’s architecture award winners get close to nature
Nelson and Marlborough’s spectacular scenery is the hero for many of this year’s winning entries in the region’s Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) Architecture Awards.
Nelson & Marlborough jury convenor Jarrod Midgley, of Rural Workshop Architecture, said there were some clear standouts among the entries that blended into the scenic surroundings of the Nelson and Marlborough regions.
‘‘All of the jury members were deeply impressed by the calibre of entries this year,’’ Midgley said. ‘‘Nelson and Marlborough are scenic and tranquil areas of New Zealand, and the winning entries were humble and respectful buildings that highlighted the area’s natural beauty.’’
Pūponga Bach, a lightweight timber holiday home in Golden Bay, received an award in the Housing category.
Led by architect John HardwickSmith of Athfield Architects, the bach’s compact size belies its sweeping setting of rail embankment, kānuka forest, coast and estuary.
The bach’s elevated linear form stretches into the tree canopy and camping deck beneath, with a sequence of open spaces along the escarpment ridge that extends through the centre of the house and connects the living spaces.
The Cabin, by Johnstone Callaghan Architects, won a Small Project Architecture Award. It is another perfect hideaway, this time tucked into the bush overlooking a small inlet in Abel Tasman National Park.
The jury said the durable, lowmaintenance little gem offered a surprise at every turn.
‘‘Designed as an adjunct to the nearby family bach, every aspect of The Cabin celebrates the essence of retreat into nature – from an outdoor shower nestled in the trees and a nest-like sleeping space, to the shuttered deck and treetop viewing platform that maintain a constant connection with the bush beyond.
‘‘Designed and assembled with love and great care, one cannot help but enjoy this earthy, honest, uplifting and spiritual building.’’
Honeymoon Bach, by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects, in Honeymoon Bay in Abel Tasman National Park, was also singled out for a Small Project Award.
The jury said the deeply shaded pocket handkerchief of a site, backed by a cliff and subject to local resident committee approval, required a brave design approach.
‘‘By cleverly stretching the envelope vertically, the architect has assigned the entire ground footprint to living and decking, and squeezed two bedrooms and ablutions above.
‘‘A cleverly cropped-back main bedroom floor allows the sun to flood into the living room beneath, making this intimate, simple and well-resolved bach feel surprisingly spacious.’’
Other highlights included Irving Smith Architects’ own office premises.
‘‘In a design masterstroke, valuable floor space at the mid and upper level is sacrificed to open the studio office to a continuous recessed north-facing verandah, supplemented by a generous terrace at the rear,’’ the jury said.
‘‘Naturally ventilated, flooded with daylight and imbued with the warmth of exposed mass timber construction, a work environment becomes a practice home full of natural light.’’