MEDIA RELEASE

6October 2011

The year’s best architecture in the top of the South

In an outstanding year for architecture in the top of the South Island eight projects have been recognised in the annual awards programme run by the New Zealand Institute of Architects.

The 2011 Nelson Marlborough Architecture Awards were announced last night at an event staged in one of the award-winning buildings, Nelson’s innovative new NMIT Arts and Media Building, designed by Irving Smith Jack Architects.

“The work submitted by architects this year was inspirational,” says Awards jury convenor, architect Virginia Fay. “The judges were really impressed with the high standard of the entries, and with the large scale of some of the projects.”

A feature of this year’s competition was the strong showing by architectural work serving or accessible to the community, says Ms Fay.

“It’s great to see architects doing excellent work where it can be seen, used and appreciated by the general public.”

Award-winning projects in the public realm include the Trafalgar Park Stage 1 Upgrade by Irving Smith Jack Architects and the transformation of the Nelson City Council Customer Services Centre by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects.

Architecture Awards also went to two other projects serving important social purposes – the Picton Emergency Operations Centre, designed by Matz Architects, and Nelson’s venerable Theatre Royal, which has been restored by Palmer and Palmer Architects.

Residential architecture, traditionally a forte of the Nelson Marlborough region, is represented in this year’s Awards by two Nelson area projects, by Redbox Architects and Irving Smith Jack, and a West Coast bach designed by C Nott Architects.

The West Coast bach also received an Award for Sustainable Architecture, as did the Trafalgar Park Stage 1 Upgrade and the NMIT Arts and Media Building.

“On these three projects the architects had carefully considered the environmental impact and performance of their designs,” says Ms Fay. “It was obvious that careful consideration had been to the future life of these buildings, and to ensuring they would be adaptable to future needs.”

Ms Fay was joined on the Awards jury by architects David Sheppard and Brendon Monk, and landscape architect Heidi Stewart.

The New Zealand Architecture Awards is the official awards programme conducted by the New Zealand Institute of Architects and its eight constituent branches throughout the country. Awards are made in various categories reflecting the scope of work undertaken by New Zealand architects. Entry is restricted to architects who are members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.

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2011 Nelson Marlborough Architecture Awards – List of winners

Architecture – Houses

Bisley House Alterations, Nelson, by Redbox Architects Ltd

Mountain Range House, Waimea, by Irving Smith Jack Architects Ltd

West Coast Bach, by C Nott Architects Ltd

Nelson City Council Customer Services Centre, by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects Ltd

Picton Emergency Operations Centre, by Matz Architects

NMIT Arts and Media Building, by Irving Smith Jack Architects Ltd

Trafalgar Park Stage 1 Upgrade, by Irving Smith Jack Architects Ltd

Theatre Royal Nelson restoration, by Palmer and Palmer Architects Ltd

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