The jury’s comment:

“Off the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty and global unrest, we are in an age where mental health and well-being are more important than ever before. As such, it is a joy to see a university accept this wero (challenge) and actively stand up and make a difference. This building, dedicated to the health and well-being of its students, offers a place of respite – to breathe, play, have fun and remove the sensory overload faced by so many today. The spaces and materials used throughout create a calm-yet-playful interior to help provide a relaxing, informal, restorative place to balance those precarious moments in life.” - Interior Awards 2022 jury.

PROJECT DETAILS

Location: Auckland

Client: Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Building area (m²): 5050m²

Project brief: The brief for the five-storey recreation centre, located in Unilodge’s student accommodation building, called for a compelling destination for students to relax, exercise and socialise between studies. The centre, designed by Jasmax, needed to be inclusive, safe and create a sense of place that reinforces fun, reflecting the changing nature of play in a digital world.

Credits: 

• Design - Jasmax
• Principal - Chris Scott
• Project Architect, construction phase - Stephanie Darlington
• Project Architect, design phase - Laura Mahon
• Interior Designers - Sarah Kirk and Kathryn Roberts
• Senior Architect - Jane Rickit
• Architectural Graduates - Katherine Campbell-Hunt and Hayden Grindell
• Brand Design, Supergraphics & Wayfinding - Clem Devine and Jarrad Caine
• Engineers - Beca 
• Acoustic Engineers - Marshall Day
• Quantity Surveyor - Rider Levett Bucknall
• Project Manager - Hargrave Project Management
• Contractor - ICON

“Te Ahūru has been designed as a place of respite and for re-energising, to support student health and wellbeing. The student-only space accommodates a range of activities that cater to different interests, including a relaxation zone and three levels of communal multi-purpose spaces, such as club facilities, cardio and dance studios, and a double-height multi-use court. To meet the brief for a playful yet calming environment, the interior has been pared back to contrast raw, exposed materials and neutral finishes with monochromatic soft furnishings. Characterful supergraphic treatments with high impact colour fields reinforce a sense of place and the spirit of playfulness throughout.”- Chris Scott. 

Watch the finalist’s presentation here: 

With thanks to our Interior Awards 2022 sponsors. Find out more about each of our sponsors here.