Awards a testament to quality
Building quality was to the fore among the 24 winners in this year's Waikato/Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards, said awards jury convener John Henderson.
Projects honoured in the awards run by Te Ka¯ hui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects include Tauranga Airport and the Zespri headquarters, a university, the restored St Mary's Convent Chapel and a variety of houses.
Entries across the categories of commercial, education, heritage, housing and small project, demonstrated the range of work undertaken in the region, said the Tauranga architect.
‘‘It was great to visit warm, healthy buildings that embody the best of sustainable design practices.''
Edwards White Architects received two commercial category awards for work in Hamilton; for Foster Group Headquarters, which displayed ‘‘an uncommon concern for quality and design detail'', and Riverbank Chambers whose elegant fit-out created broad views and a very desirable workplace, the jury said.
Other commercial winners were Jasmax for additions to Tauranga Airport, and Warren and Mahoney Architects and Architecture Page Henderson for Zespri in Mt Maunganui, – ‘‘a signature presence between the utilitarian port and residential areas.''
The Tauranga Crossing mall, also by Warren and Mahoney was praised as a ‘‘compelling example of what modern, multishop experiences can be.''
In the education category, the buildings at the University of Waikato Tauranga CBD Campus, by Jasmax, were winners along with The Lakes Early Childhood Education Centre in Tauranga, designed by Copeland Associates.
The one heritage category award was for St Mary's
Convent Chapel, Hamilton, renovated by PAUA Architects.
Fourteen awards were made in the popular housing category with Hamilton the site of two winners. Three Gables, by Edwards White Architects, had ‘‘a compact and thoughtful plan and well-proportioned courtyards,'' and the Robertson Residence, by PAUA Architects, was ‘‘a bold response to a particular site.''
Cambridge award-winners were Aspin Road House by Studio of Pacific Architecture, with its ‘‘high level of client input,'' and Thornton Road Passive House, by Architype, which met demanding sustainable design standards.
Winners in the Coromandel were: the Hill House at Hahei, designed by Felicity Wallace architects, ‘‘part fort and part tramper's hut'', while Hot Water Beach House by Scarlet Architects was successfully organised ‘‘to ensure flexible multi-generational occupancy.''
Dorrington Atcheson Architects had made ‘‘excellent use of a spectacular site'' with Hikuai Hill House, and the jury noted Light Mine on the Kuaotunu Coast by Crosson Architects uniquely referenced the mine shafts of this former gold-mining area.