2009 Southern Architecture Awards winners

MEDIA RELEASE

23 November 2009

2009 Southern Architecture Awards winners

A true ‘family home’, a ‘fortress’ and a house built with canine comfort in mind are among designs celebrated in the 2009 Southern Architecture Awards.

An innovative library project, the Coal Pit Road Winery and Otago Polytechnic Art School are also winners in the awards programme, organised and run by the New Zealand Institute of Architects and supported by Resene.

Jury convenor, architect Anna-Marie Chin, said the standard of entries had been very high.

“The quality of both the architecture and the building was very good with buildings put together beautifully and a lot of considered detailing,” she said.

True family home a winner in residential category

The Johnston Family Residence, by Mason & Wales Architects, which overlooks the Clutha River in Wanaka, is a family home in every sense.

Ms Chin said: “It was designed by the architect son of the owners and built by another son. It was designed so the post and beam structure could be built entirely by one person and is a really lovely collaboration between family.”

The property, designed purely as a summer weekend retreat, is arranged as two contemporary timber pavilions around a large courtyard area.

Jurors admired the meticulously detailed timberwork which seamlessly integrates structure and glazing, contributing to an overall clarity of structure.

Jurors were also charmed by a House at North East Valley, Dunedin, by Architectural Ecology, built from low maintenance materials and natural timber and cleverly oriented to maximise sun.

“This is essentially a little house for a woman and her dog,” said Ms Chin. “He’s a cocker spaniel and quite a character and it’s been designed to suit him too, with his own room.

“It is a very warm and inviting home, cleverly divided using cabinetry elements and environmentally considered with features such as an internal concrete wall that acts as a thermal mass to retain heat.”

A substantial new home, the Duncan House in Queenstown by Blair & Co, was likened to a “fortress clinging to a precipice”.

Jurors admired the robust materials and detailing and the “both sensitive and brutal” siting while Ms Chin said the property provided a “real feeling of protection and shelter”.

Library space for teens

The Interior Design - Young Adult Space, Dunedin Public Library, was the sole winner in interior architecture.

The project, by Architecture & Urban Design - Dunedin City Council, was praised as a “brave decision” by the library, reinventing one of its spaces and turning traditional library design approach on its head.

Jurors noted: “A chaotic interior environment uses a strong conceptual basis to appeal to youth. It strips a fantastic piece of brutalist architecture back to its bones and adds layers of riotous colour and texture. The result is raw, fun and comfortable.”

Ms Chin said: “We all responded immediately to this. It was done on a low budget, with second hand furniture and recycled materials. Even the light fittings are recycled and it has a real retro look.

“It provides spaces within spaces and is really accessible and totally appropriate. The fact we were there early in the day and there were already young people there reading illustrates how successful it is.”

Winery and Jacks Point Clubhouse take commercial honours

Coal Pit Road Winery at Gibbston Valley, by Architecture Workshop, was among winners in the commercial architecture category, praised for its elegance.

Jurors admired the building’s simple functional nature and “gentle canopy” roof that appears to float above precast concrete walls evoking the woolsheds that would have once stood on the land.

The multi use Jack’s Point Clubhouse by Jeremy Kingan Architect and Darby Partners in association, was also a winner in the category, noted for its dramatic scale, simple palette of natural materials and large warm flexible spaces that can “shift as the development matures”.

Heritage

The adaptation of the historic Balfour Stables at Queenstown into a home took honours in the heritage category.

The seven-bay stone stable was originally part of a farm, established in the late 19th century in the Wakatipu Basin.

Jurors praised the way the project, by Jackie Gillies + Associates, has restored the exterior and brought light into the building while retaining its character so well that “it offers no clues as to what’s inside”.

The bays of the seven horse stalls were used as the basis for the interior spaces and many original features, including posts, beams and saddle racks were retained.

A building to “smile in”

Otago Polytechnic Art School, by McCoy and Wixon Architects, was the only winner in public architecture, acclaimed by jurors as a simple no nonsense structure that allows for flexibility with large spaces of natural light providing a positive and creative environment for staff and students.

“It’s a really lovely space - and a building you want to smile in,” said Ms Chin.

Queenstown Residential

The “impressive” Kelvin Heights Residence in Queenstown, by Warren and Mahoney, with “spaces which seem to swallow you up” was a residential winner.

Jurors praised the way the project had addressed issues regarding the scale and siting of such a large property, using natural materials and providing well lit spaces and spectacular views.

Ms Chin said: “It is rather like a big gallery and you can disappear into it. It is very well detailed and beautifully executed.”

A Lakeside Estates Residence in Queenstown, with a Japanese style interior, by 2 Architecture Studio, included a main bedroom wing which was “an unexpected surprise of beautifully created spaces”.

A Park Street Street Residence, by the same architects, which also includes an orthodontist clinic, won acclaim for its sophistication and “punched in windows and balconies” which pick out views and amplify light quality.

Dunedin Residential

Other Dunedin residential winners included Clear House by Modern Architecture Partners described as small, simple yet elegant with flexibility for further expansion and providing “a surprise on a suburban street”.

Andrea Bell’s renovation and addition to the Bell House, originally designed by Ted McCoy, was praised for its lightness of touch with a design “that is unfussy, clearly defined and liveable”

Wanaka homes

Wanaka Lodge, a large home, by Patterson Associates, was also noted for its “tough, fortress-like presentation” contrasted with “the playful quality of the total building experience”.

Ms Chin said the property had a “whimsical quality” with effective play between stone and light and many views.

A Kanuka Rise House, by Sheppard & Rout Architects, “rests comfortably on a raw Kanuka hillside”. Jurors’ attention was captured by the “intimate veiled living space” and considered composition of forms, textures and colours that blend comfortably with its surroundings.

Jurors
Ms Chin was joined on the jury by architects Bronwen Kerr from Queenstown and Rafe Maclean from Wanaka and by TV producer and businessman Henry Crawford.
As well as visiting all shortlisted properties, the judges met with the architects and clients. The buildings were judged against a series of key criteria including their contribution to the advancement of architecture as a discipline and enhancement of the human spirit.
For more award winning New Zealand architecture visit, www.nzia.co.nz
About the New Zealand Architecture Awards
The New Zealand Architecture Awards programme was established by the New Zealand Institute of Architects to celebrate the innovation, creativity and excellence of architectural projects nationwide.
The awards are open to all NZIA Practices, and projects can be entered into one or more of 10 categories – Public architecture, Residential architecture – housing, Residential architecture – multiple housing, Commercial architecture, Urban design, Interior architecture, Heritage, Small project architecture, Sustainability and Enduring architecture. There is no limit to the number of awards the local jury can make in any category.

The programme has three tiers, progressing from the eight regional awards to national recognition – the New Zealand Architecture Awards – and through to the ultimate accolade, the New Zealand Architecture Medal.

All local winners become eligible for consideration for a New Zealand Architecture Award, decided by a national jury, which includes an overseas judge, in early 2010.

In May at the NZIA’s annual Gala Dinner, the finalists for the New Zealand Architecture Medal will be announced, and the winner named later in the evening. Only one New Zealand Architecture Medal is bestowed each year, in recognition of a single built work.

2009 Southern Architecture Awards
Judges Citations

Commercial Architecture
NZIA Practice Award For
Jeremy Kingan Architect and Darby Partners in association Jack's Point Clubhouse
Without mimicking any historic language a simple palette of natural materials and recycled elements is used to create a building that feels substantial and durable. Large warm flexible spaces can shift as the development matures.
Dramatic in scale, the building’s design also recognises the climatic extremes of the area.

Architecture Workshop Ltd Coal Pit Road Winery
The intention was to make an ‘elegant shed’ to house a winery. A minimum gradient gable roof floats over heavy cloistered precast concrete walls set into the ground. The gentle canopy evokes the woolshed forms of earlier times, recalling the previous pastoral land use. Elegant connections of structure and basic raw materials thoughtfully detailed and resolved. Simplicity and effortless functionality characterize this building.

Heritage
NZIA Practice Award For
Jackie Gillies + Associates Balfour Stables
This is a sensitive contemporary insertion into an historic stone stable building. The exterior offers no clues as to what’s inside; once through the door the interior opens up to light-filled living spaces. The detailing is simple using a combination of raw and refined materials, with sympathetic materials and colours. Cleverly incorporated subtle visual references to the stables past construction. Complex historical restraints have been handled with care and competency.

Interior Architecture
NZIA Practice Award For
Architecture & Urban Design - Dunedin City Council Interior Design - Young Adult Space, Dunedin Public Library
Historically libraries have found it difficult to attract teenage adults. A brave decision by the Dunedin Public Library led to this reinvention of one of its spaces, turning the traditional design approach on its head. A chaotic interior environment uses a strong conceptual basis to appeal to youth. It strips a fantastic piece of brutalist architecture back to its bones and adds layers of riotous colour and texture. The result is raw, fun and comfortable.

Public Architecture
NZIA Practice Award For
McCoy and Wixon Architects Ltd Otago Polytechnic Art School
This simple two storey ‘shed’ unites disparate sections of the campus. The no-nonsense structure with its unpretentious zincalume cladding provides successful large volumes and spatial relationships, allowing for flexibility with large spaces of natural light quality that provokes a positive response. Beautifully linked through to the existing building successfully promotes social integration and collaboration. The overall result is a very successful and creative environment for staff and students.

Residential Architecture - Houses
NZIA Practice Award For
Architectural Ecology Ltd House at North East Valley Dunedin
This house sits comfortably on its site, cleverly oriented to optimize exposure to the sun. The materials are of low maintenance and relatively green and friendly; timber and timber products have been preferred, with the inclusion of some local basalt and concrete. A small wooden box interior is cleverly divided using cabinetry elements.

Andrea Bell Bell House
This renovation and addition have been carried out on a small house, originally designed by Ted McCoy, which has suffered from some unfortunate additions over the years. Respectful of the existing elements and the original architect’s design, the architect has shown lightness of touch with a design that is unfussy, clearly defined and livable.

Blair & Co Limited Duncan House
Likened to a "fortress clinging to a precipice." Robust materials and detailing make this private house a long-term installation on what is a privileged site. The siting is both sensitive and brutal, with well considered spatial relationships between interior, courtyards and adjacent landscapes.

Warren and Mahoney Ltd Kelvin Heights Residence
This large house successfully addresses issues regarding its scale and siting in relation to neighbours by providing well-lit spaces with spectacular views. The flawless detailing and spatial configurations combine with some spaces which seem to 'swallow you up'. The natural materials are deliberately restrained as a complement to the view. This is a most impressive house, beautifully executed.

Modern Architecture Partners Ltd Clear House
This small, simple yet elegant house provides a surprise on a suburban street, through the quality of light, play of reflections and texture in the compact interior. A large palette of materials has been used, with a pleasing mix of raw and refined materials. The functional, simple, linear plan extruded to meet the living requirements for the client - a bachelor with a good art collection - but has the flexibility for future expansion.

Sheppard & Rout Architects Ltd Kanuka Rise House
This house rests comfortably on a raw kanuka hillside, a challenging site. Two wings pivot on entry to create a well oriented courtyard with good connection to the intimate veiled living space. A considered composition of forms, textures, and colours blends comfortably with its surroundings.

Patterson Associates Limited Wanaka Lodge
From the street, the lodge has a tough, fortress-like presentation, although the windows give a hint of the playful quality of the total building experience. The interior provides a perfectly idiosyncratic foil for the owners’ theatrical furniture and collectables and there is a surprisingly whimsical play between the robust stone and the light, uniquely profiled laminate panels. Refreshingly introverted courtyard in the landscape with many views.

2 Architecture Studio Limited Park Street Residence, Queenstown
A demanding brief required the integration of an orthodontist clinic into a limited existing footprint and adjoining residence. The resolution is sophisticated, featuring nicely composed black volumes. Punched in windows and balconies carefully pick out views and amplify the quality of light in the building. There is a carefully applied attention to detail.

2 Architecture Studio Limited Lakeside Estates Residence, Queenstown
A complex and difficult client brief stipulated a Japanese style interior within the covenanted restrictions on the exterior design. The main bedroom wing is an unexpected surprise of beautifully created spaces where the clients apparently spend most of their time. Flexibility of space and beautifully crafted rooms with attention to fine detail are the hallmarks of an outstanding piece of design.

Mason & Wales Architects Ltd Johnston Family Residence
This new weekend retreat and summer family home sits on the edge of a plateau overlooking the Clutha River. The U-shaped plan makes excellent use of the confined site. Arranged as two contemporary timber pavilions around a large courtyard area and linked by a service spine, the plan cleverly separates public, private and service activities. Meticulously detailed timberwork seamlessly integrate structure and glazing and contribute to an overall clarity of structure. The design and planning simplified the building process for ease of construction and efficient building programme.

Resene Colour Award
NZIA Practice Award For
Andrea Bell Bell House
The striking black steel provides a no-nonsense contrast to the red brick and red painted weatherboards. The weatherboards show at a glance the location of the existing walls, contrasting with the light touch of the white and timber interiors.

ENDS

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