HNZC Affordable Housing Design Competition Winner

Smart ideas and equally smart design has earned Auckland architect Andre Hodgskin top prize and $10,000 in the 2003 Housing New Zealand Corporation (HNZC) Affordable Housing Design Competition.

His entry was selected from 25 other designs which judges described as both innovative and expressive.

“The competition is part of our ongoing commitment to residential design, particularly for affordable housing,” said HNZC Chief Executive Helen Fulcher.

“The simplicity and elegance of Andre Hodgskin’s concepts, and their potential to be developed into a variety of site plans, were a key part of the decision to award him the prize.”

Helen Fulcher said many low and modest income New Zealanders wanted well designed, well-made homes they could afford.

“Aside from the state housing provided through HNZC, there is a largely unmet market for the private sector to build and develop low-cost housing.

“The purpose of the competition was to identify the best design concepts for taking affordable housing into the future, with the potential for HNZC to commission a complete design for one or more of the concepts.”

The competition was open to all designers and students provided that each was affiliated to a current New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) practice.

Competition judges included representatives from the Auckland University School of Architecture, HNZC, Manukau City Council, architectural firms, the construction industry and HNZC’s tenants.

Judges Comments

In making the Award, judges said apart from the simplicity and elegance of Andre Hodgskin’s concepts, and their potential to be developed into a variety of site plans, the design concepts related well to adjacent residential and commercial properties. They offered open spaces that would meet the needs of individual units and foster informal social contact and networks.

An option also develops clear view lines through the site from both vehicle and pedestrian entry points. The approach is extended as a pedestrian spine, marked by paving and tree planting. A further feature of the site plan is the direct way in which vehicle access has been provided to each of the housing units.

Density targets have been achieved within a two to three storey development, and without resorting to extended walkway access at upper floor levels. All interior spaces are able to be naturally lit and ventilated, with benefits for energy consumption and occupant health.

Unit planning has achieved a sense of spaciousness within tight floor area constraints, with outlook in two directions from living areas, and their direct connection to living courts or generous balconies. The option to extend upper level bedrooms over these balconies offers variation in facades, enriching the simple form of each housing block. Variation in cladding materials is also possible.

The detailed design of open spaces alongside ground floor units offers further scope for treatments which are distinctive to individual units.

The judges concluded that this concept design is well able to respond to the demands of a more comprehensive project brief, and to the special conditions presented by the competition site and by other Housing New Zealand Corporation sites.

Awards:

HNZC 2003 Affordable Housing Competition Prize: Andre Hodgskin of Andre Hodgskin Architects, Auckland.

Commendations John McGrail of Christchurch-based Dalman Architecture Ltd Anna Tong and Kendon McGrail of Jasmax, Auckland.

Additional information about the competition is attached

Visuals of the award winning concepts are available

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