Dunedin Heritage Re-use Award Winners Announced

Dunedin (Wednesday, 26 March 2014) - The winners of Dunedin’s fourth annual Heritage Re-use Awards were announced this evening at the awards ceremony at Wall Street.

The overall winner this year was the former Donald Reid Store in Vogel Street, owned by Donald Reid Properties and the site of ADInstruments’ new offices.

For this year’s student design competition, students were asked to apply their imaginations to the re-use of the Athenaeum building in the Octagon.

The awards are judged by a panel including Dunedin City Councillors, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, local branch representatives of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand, and building owners.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull, who presented the overall winner award, says, “It’s great to see the growth of the awards, as the number and quality of entries increases each year. It’s a very clear sign of the heightened awareness of the importance of built heritage to the future of our city and of the investment that people are prepared to make for that future.”

DCC Policy Planner – Heritage Dr Glen Hazelton, who co-ordinates the awards, says, “There were so many good projects this year, I’m glad I’m not on the judging panel. For me, it’s one of the most exciting nights of my year.

“It’s a chance for people to come together to celebrate the achievements of those who have been working so hard on their buildings throughout the year. It’s a chance for all of us to say thank you and that we appreciate their efforts.”

Nominations for next year’s awards can be made at any time before January 2015. More information is available at www.dunedin.govt.nz/heritage.

The Dunedin Heritage Re-use Awards celebrate excellence, innovation and creativity in the re-use of heritage buildings in Dunedin and include categories for earthquake strengthening, interiors, and overall re-use. The student design competition challenges students to develop innovative solutions to the re-use of Dunedin’s older buildings. The awards and competition were an initiative of the Dunedin Heritage Buildings Re-use Steering Group.

Overall Winner

Former Donald Reid Store, 77 Vogel Street, owned by Donald Reid Properties and the site of ADInstruments new offices

Judging panel’s comment - “This stunning and exciting redevelopment has transformed a former wool and grain store into state of the art office-space, revealing in the process the beauty of the fabric of the building. All involved in this project, which figured highly in all of the categories, deserve the highest praise.”

Winners

Oakwood Properties Earthquake Strengthening Award - Bevan White – Spiire for Cargill’s Monument

Judging panel’s comment - “The complete sensitivity to the structure of the monument brilliantly resolves the potential conflict involved in securing and strengthening without intruding on the original design”.

Otago Polytechnic School of Design/New Zealand Historic Places Trust Heritage Interiors Award - Immersion Marketing, 104 Bond Street

Judging panel’s comment - “The imaginative use of previously derelict space, highlighting and celebrating of the original features of the building and its interesting alleyway location. The judges felt those involved in this project are demonstrating the potential of such interesting and previously hidden spaces throughout the city, and doing so at a scale which is manageable for even a small operation.”

Dunedin Heritage Re-use Award - Former Donald Reid Store, 77 Vogel Street

Dunedin Heritage Re-use Student Design Competition (the Athenaeum building) - John McLachlan, Margot Bowen and Mayank Thammalla

Judging panel’s comment - "If this year's entries are anything to go by, our iconic built heritage has an exciting future. The propositions for the Athenaeum ranged from the subtle to the stupendous, and it was good to see a spectrum of community and commercial uses being considered”.

Highly Commended

Oakwood Properties Earthquake Strengthening Award - Peter Stevenson – Stevenson Brown for 53 Castle Street

Judging panel’s comment - “This demonstrated just how much can be achieved from parties committed to the protection of our built heritage. This work is very much a ‘horses for courses’ solution to various challenges in the building and is particularly notable for having been achieved without disruption to the tenant.”

Dunedin Heritage Re-use Award - Otago Museum HD Skinner Annex

Dunedin Heritage Re-use Student Design Competition - Matthew King and Annabel Fraser, Susan Preston

ENDS

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