Rotorua Museum and Turangawaewae Marae, two of the country’s most significant heritage sites, were among the 21 projects awarded at the 2012 Waikato-Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards announced on 26 October.

Stigma Associates were honoured with the Heritage Award for the refurbishment of Rotorua’s Museum of Art + History, a three-phase project which has seen the Museum restored to its original 1908 design. The Awards’ jury, convened by Taupo architect Sean Harris, commented: “The architects’ attention to detail is laudable, and their respect for the existing building is evident”.

Salmond Reed’s project at Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia was also bestowed a Heritage Award. The project included the upgrade and refurbishment of two highly significant buildings, the meeting house at Mahinarangi (built 1929) and the royal residence Turongo (built in 1938). The jury commented: “In incorporating modern materials and services, and new buildings, into the existing architecture the architects have taken great care not to disturb the original fabric and decoration of the buildings. The unobtrusive work will serve to preserve the Kingitanga buildings for future generations”.

The Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre, designed by Irving Smith Jack Architects, scooped two awards in the competition - one in the Public Architecture category and one for sustainable architecture. “A thoughtful reworking of the existing structure has provided a flexible and light-filled environment, and a building well-connected to adjacent open space”, were the judges comments.

Tai Wainanga (at the Ruakura Research Campus in Hamilton), designed by Chow:Hill Architects, was also a double award-winner, receiving recognition in both the education and sustainable architecture categories.

The other award winners included a range of commercial projects, educational centres in Hamilton, residential projects reaching from Whakatane to Waihi, interior projects and small-scale architecture work. Three awards for sustainable architecture were given out at the awards presentation, as well as an award for enduring architecture.

Scroll through the image gallery above to view the 2012 Waikato-Bay of Plenty Architecture Award winners or see below for the full list of winners.

Judges’ citations are available here.

Commercial architecture

• 8 Maui Street by Archimedia Group Ltd
• Laser Eye Clinic by Chibnall Buckell Marovic Team Architects
• Sharp Tudhope (Tauranga) Jasmax and Matrixx Architects
• Te AWA (Te Rapa) Ignite Architects
• Vetfocus Veterinary Centre (Te Awamutu) DLA Architects

Education

• Tai Wananga, Ruakura Research Campus Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• Waikato Diocesan School for Girls; Sports Education Centre (Hamilton) Antanas Procuta Architects Ltd

Heritage

• Rotorua Museum of Art + History Sigma Consultants Ltd
• Turangawaewae Marae (Ngaruawahia) Salmond Reed Architects Limited

Housing

• Arran Road Residence (Hamilton) Edwards White Architects Ltd
• Kirk House (Whakatane) Carling Architects Ltd
• McHardy House (Waihi) Roger Course Architect
• Mangatawa Papakainga Kaumatua Housing (Papamoa) Babbage Consultants Limited
• Te Awa Lane Residence (Tamahere, Hamilton) Edwards White Architects

Interior architecture

• Lobby Refurbishment (Hamilton) Edwards White Architects Ltd
• Staples Rodway (Hamilton) Chow:Hill Architects Ltd

Public architecture

• Whakatane Library & Exhibition Centre – Te Kōputu a Te Whanga a Toi Irving Smith Jack Architects Ltd

Small Project architecture

• Forman Residence (Hamilton) Ambienti Team Architects Ltd
• Hut on Sleds (Whangapoua) Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects (Auckland) Ltd
• Waikato University School of Psychology Offices Re-fit (Hamilton) Antanas Procuta Architects Ltd

Sustainable architecture

• Hut on Sleds (Whangapoua) Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects (Auckland) Ltd
• Tai Wananga, Ruakura Research Campus (Hamilton) Chow:Hill Architects Ltd
• Whakatane Library & Exhibition Centre – Te Kōputu a Te Whanga a Toi Irving Smith Jack Architects Ltd

Enduring Award

• Cowley Residence (Hamilton) Dick Mercer Architect