That's Livin Gary by Trevor Wilson of ARCreate Design Studio. Photography by Jo Smith Photographer.
Keeping the celebrations going, the Auckland/Northland region came together on Friday the 13th of August to see who took home a coveted award at the regional round of the 2021 ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards.
The winners were David Maurice of LTD Architectural Design Studio, Pip Bolton of AVAIL PACIFIC LIMITED, Trevor Wilson of ARCreate Design Studio, Joe Long of LTD Architectural Design Studio, Madushin Amarasekera of Construkt Associates Ltd and Mark McLeay of Creative Arch Limited.
David Maurice of LTD Architectural Design Studio won a 2021 Regional Residential Interiors Award for his work on a hygge inspired home. Designed for a young Kiwi family with Danish heritage, the challenge for Maurice was to bring together, under one roof, the best qualities in interior design of both cultures including the openness of Antipodean architecture alongside the more enclosed, comforting spaces celebrated in Nordic climates.
David Maurice said that at first the two approaches seemed contradictory, however by planning the layout around a central sunken lounge it was possible to create generous sun-filled spaces.
“The ceilings slope inwards and downwards towards the central area, inviting occupants to step down into the Hygge lounge where low lighting and chocolate tones create a relaxed and cosy atmosphere enhanced by walnut veneers, soft furnishings and a wood-burning stove. But unlike a traditional Nordic lounge, this one remains connected to the other living spaces providing a New Zealand style,” said Maurice.
Pip Bolton of AVAIL PACIFIC LIMITED won three awards for her work on Te Hononga, Hundertwasser Memorial Park in Northland. She won the 2021 Regional Commercial Interiors Award Sponsored by GIB, a Highly Commended Award in the Commercial/Industrial Category, and a Highly Commended Award in the Resene Colour in Design Awards.
Floating over an old riverbed in the centre of the famous Northland town Kawakawa, is Te Hononga. The project brief was to design a building that honours and pays homage to Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The building provides spaces for a public library, community workshop, interpretive centre with video and audio displays of local relationships with Hundertwasser, his philosophies for art and architecture, ecology and conservation.
The design is two interlocking colourful heart shaped buildings, one of rammed earth and the other timber, lovingly crafted by a community with passion and determination.
Pip Bolton says Te Hononga is a joining place, a meeting place and a space to come together.
“The two interlocking hearts are symbolic of the joining together of the Kawakawa community and Hundertwasser, Maori and Pakeha, visitors and residents, our past and future, our places (east, west), of man and the environment,” says Bolton.
The ADNZ judges said the project exemplifies the whakatauki “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, ēngari taku toa he toa takatini,” (success is not the work of one, but of many).
“This is a thoughtful and creative reinterpretation of Hundertwasser’s ideas and a careful blend of cultural narratives incorporating Hundertwasser, Māori, local artists and crafts people. The rammed earth construction and the locally sourced raw materials assist in making this significant project memorable,” said the panel.
Joe Long of LTD Architectural Design Studio received a Commended Award in the Residential Alterations and Additions Category for his work renovating an incredible Grey Lynn villa.
The homeowners purchased the villa in a very rundown state, and decided to renovate the house before moving in. The brief for Joe was to inject character back into the villa while bringing it into the 21st century. An extension to the back of the house has doubled the size of the house with the bedrooms occupying the existing villa space, and the new extension providing a large open and light filled living space.
ADNZ judges said the old villa has been given a new lease of life thanks to this creative renovation.
“A balance has been found with a contemporary and sympathetic approach by the designer. The repositioned house has been extended to create fresh and welcoming living areas. This results in a coherent, sensitive and impressive upgrade,” said the panel.
Madushin Amarasekera of Construkt Associates Ltd won a Highly Commended Award in the Commercial/Industrial Category for his design of the Hunua Views Pump Station.
The pump station provides wastewater reticulation for up to 1000 dwellings in the adjacent Hunua Views Development. The brief required that the station relate well to the development and act as a marker building. The design response included patterned concrete and a utilitarian front yard, while the pitched metal roof and apertures were forms more residential in nature with dynamic roof geometry creating a point of interest.
Trevor Wilson of ARCreate Design Studio received a Commended Award in the Residential New Home over 300m2 Category for his work on a cliff top family dream home in Red Beach, Auckland. The judging panel described Wilson’s design as a response to the site, with the carefully crafted floor plan enabling good connection with the outdoor spaces.
Mark McLeay of Creative Arch received a Highly Commended Award in the Commercial/Industrial Category for his design of a mixed-use commercial development in Warkworth. A clever design for a corner site, the judging panel commended McLeay on his ability to contribute to the streetscape. “The internal laneway provides effective working spaces, while the functional plan is elevated using an appropriate combination of materials”, said the panel.
Well done to all the winners of the Auckland/Northland region.
Regional ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Award celebrations will be taking place throughout the month of August with the National Awards Gala being held on Friday the 29th of October 2021 in Dunedin.