Architectural Centre 70th anniversary awards

22 July 2016

Architectural Centre 70th anniversary awards

To commemorate their 70th anniversary on the 23rd July, the Architectural Centre announced a number of awards at its 70th birthday party this evening (22 July 2016) at Wellington Museum. The awards recognised many in the architectural and design community for their contributions to Wellington's built environment over the last 70 years.

"The aim of improving our built environment has been key to the Centre's activities over the last 70 years, ever since the inaugural meeting in the Boronia Lounge on Lambton Quay all those years ago. These awards acknowledge projects, organisations and people who have played important roles in making Wellington the great place it is."

While The Roger Walker Award for the Fastest Building was subject to some debate, this was eventually awarded to the Shamrock Tavern, which was moved over a weekend from Molesworth Street to its current site in Tinakori Rd in 1981. The Basin Bridge Best Left Unbuilt Award went to a roading project - but not the flyover. Instead the winner was the proposal for a Wellington waterfront motorway in the 1960s, which - if it had been built - would have run through the very site of the 70th anniversary event - Wellington Museum.

Winners were presented with vibrant orange hard hats with the Architectural Centre logo.

Many of the awards were named to acknowledge the expertise and service of many Architectural Centre members, including historic figures such as: Gordon Wilson, former government architect, who, with lawyer John Cox, founded the Architectural Centre. Architectural photographer and heritage advocate Charles Fearnley and architectural historian Margaret Alington also had awards named in their memory. Others recognised include: Mike Donn (wind scientist), David Kernohan (architectural heritage expert), Chris Cochran (conservation architect), Jim Beard (architect and landscape architect), Duncan Joiner (Chief Architect), Avis Higgs (artist and textile designer), and architect and television personality Roger Walker.

The Architectural Centre established in 1946 founded the first architectural school in Wellington (1947) and the first town planning school in New Zealand 1949). John Cox was the Centre's first president, and principal of the Centre's town planning school. More recently, the Architectural Centre was the lead opponent in the Basin Bridge Board of Inquiry in 2014.

The list of award recipients follows.

• THE GORDON WILSON AWARD FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

• WCC for recent council housing refurbishments

• THE DEMONSTRATION HOUSE SMALL HOUSE AWARD

• Sky Box, Egmont St (Melling Morse, 2001)

• THE JELLICOE TOWER TALL BUILDING AWARD

• Jellicoe Tower (Alan Wild, 1965)

• THE MIKE DONN AWARD FOR AERODYNAMICS

• Wind Wand (Zephyrometer), Evans Bay (Phil Price, 2003)

• THE DAVID KERNOHAN AWARD FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE

• Hannah Warehouse conversion, Leeds and Eva St (Gray Tippett Architects/Athfield Architects)

• THE CHRIS COCHRAN AWARD FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION

• Old St Paul's, 1966-c1982 (Works Consultancy)

• THE JIM BEARD AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

• LRT plan, Transport 2000 (Daryl Cockburn, Brent Efford & Kerry Wood)
THE JOHN COX AWARD FOR URBAN PLACE-MAKING

• Wellington Waterfront (Wellington Waterfront Ltd)

• THE DUNCAN JOINER AWARD FOR BEST GOVERNMENT BUILDING

• The Met Office (Bill Alington)

• THE CHARLES FEARNLEY AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY

• Gavin Woodward (Voices of Silence)
THE AVIS HIGGS AWARD FOR INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

• Wellington Public Library, Civic Square (Athfield Architects)

• THE BANKSEY AWARD FOR BEST PAINT JOB

• BMD

• THE HOUSE PARTY AWARD FOR TEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE OR INSTALLATION

• Lux Festival

• THE MARGARET ALINGTON AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURAL WRITING

• Gerald Melling (Mid-City)

• THE ROGER WALKER AWARD FOR THE FASTEST BUILDING

• The Shamrock Tavern (Rex Nicholls)
THE BASIN BRIDGE BEST LEFT UNBUILT AWARD

• Wellington Waterfront Motorway (1960s)
THE BRAD PITT AWARD FOR BEST CELEBRITY ARCHITECT

• Roger Walker (Mitre 10 Dream Home; the AA Torque Show)

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