Winning designs hailed as ‘social glue’
A community centre, the “Big Pinkie” office block, a $35 million waterfront theatre and stylish new houses won architectural praise last night.
Lynda Simmons, judging convener for the New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Auckland area awards, said 45 buildings won awards — 13 more than last year — from a shortlist of 64.
She said it was encouraging to see successful public and educational buildings show how good architecture could be “a type of social glue”, strengthening communities.
“This year’s award winners show how architects are providing sophisticated solutions to often complex problems,” Simmons said, naming the Britomart area as a zone which had kickstarted the revitalisation of downtown Auckland and the Wynyard Quarter as undergoing a great transformation.
The building boom which has gripped Auckland was reflected in the awards, announced at the new ASB Waterfront Theatre, which itself scooped awards for the local Moller Architects and Australia’s BVN.
It was praised for its streetlevel walls which peel back by day to engage with passing public yet transform into a lantern-lit theatre at night.
The Glen Innes community centre, Te Oro, by Archimedia Group, won a public architecture award. The “Big Pinkie” office block, SAP Tower at 151 Queen St, won an award for Peddle Thorp Aitken.
Fearon Hay Architects won for its Kauri Timber Building on Fanshawe St, Warren and Mahoney for the Mason Bros building in the Wynyard Quarter and for Quad 7 on Leonard Isitt Drive at Auckland Airport.
Parnell’s Bishop Selwyn Chapel also won Fearon Hay a public architecture award.