NZIA Waikato/BOP Region awards announced

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ANZ Business Centre by Wingate + Farquhar was a winner in the Commercial Architecture category. Image: Amanda Aitken

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Mystery Creek Event Centre HQ by Chow:Hill Architects Ltd was a winner in the Commercial Architecture category. The project was also a recipient of the Resene Colour Award. Image: Darryl Carey

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University of Waikato Student Centre by Warren and Mahoney Architects Ltd and AECOM in association was a winner in the Education and Sustainability categories. Image: Simon Devitt

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The offices of Cooney Lees Morgan by Wingate + Farquhar was a winner in the Interior Architecture category. Image: Amanda Aitken

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Elizabeth Cafe and Larder by Wingate + Farquhar was a winner in the Interior Architecture category. Image: Amanda Aitken

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The offices of Norris Ward McKinnon by Wingate + Farquhar was a winner in the Interior Architecture category. Image: Simon Devitt

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The offices of Staples Rodway Accountants by Wingate + Farquhar was a winner in the Interior Architecture category. Image: Amanda Aitken

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Harris House (built in 1980) by Roger Walker Architect was a winner in the Enduring Architecture category.

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Smith House by Rod Smith Architects Ltd was a winner in the Enduring Architecture category.

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Hahei Beach House by McCoy + Heine Architects Ltd was a winner in the Housing category. Image: Desmond Burdon

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Maungakawa House by Patterson Associates Ltd was a winner in the Housing category. The projects was also a recipient of the Resene Colour Award. Image: Simon Devitt

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Otoparae House by Mitchell & Stout Architects Ltd was a winner in the Housing category. Image: Simon Devitt

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Pipi Beach House by Antanas Procuta Architects Ltd was a winner in the Housing category. Image: Roland Bart Ebbing

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Te Awamutu House by Stevens Lawson Architects Ltd was a winner in the Housing and Sustainability categories. Image: Mark Smith

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Parbhu Barn by Chow:Hill Architects Ltd was a winner in the Small Project Architecture category.

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Projects large and small, private and public, urban and rural, have been recognised in the 2013 Waikato/Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards, which were announced last night (25 October) at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton.

The 15 award-winning buildings, which range in scale from commercial offices and a university library to compact houses and a farm shed, are located across the region, from Hamilton and Cambridge to Tauranga and the Coromandel Peninsula.

“The judging process was an intense journey,” says the convenor of the awards jury, Hamilton architect Glen McHardie. “Over three days, we visited 30 projects and had great discussions about them all.”

McHardie says several themes emerged in this year’s Waikato/Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards, which is an official, peer-reviewed programme run by the New Zealand Institute of Architects. One was the stand-out performance of the firm Wingate + Farquhar, which won five Awards, including all four Awards in the Interior Architecture category.

“By challenging the status quo of standard office fit-outs, Wingate + Farquhar are bringing flexibility and a sense of playfulness to workspaces.

“It’s a pleasing approach that adds value to the work life of employees.”

McHardie says the jury, which included architects Ken Crosson and Grant Edwards and Hamilton accountant Graham Haines, also noted a general trend towards a more sustainable architecture.

“It’s good to see the fundamental principles of energy efficiency integrated into designs and becoming the norm.”

Another gratifying result of this year’s awards, McHardie notes, was the presence among the winners of two Hamilton houses – the Smith House, designed by Rod Smith, and the Harris House, designed by Roger Walker – which were built more than 25 years ago.

“It’s important to seek out good examples of our architectural heritage, celebrate them, and learn from them.”

Awards were given out across seven categories, with the winners being:

Commercial Architecture

ANZ Business Centre (Tauranga)
Wingate + Farquhar

Mystery Creek Event Centre HQ (Hamilton)
Chow:Hill Architects Ltd

Education

University of Waikato Student Centre (Hamilton)
Warren and Mahoney Architects Ltd and AECOM in association

Interior Architecture

Cooney Lees Morgan (Tauranga)
Wingate + Farquhar

Elizabeth Cafe and Larder (Tauranga)
Wingate + Farquhar

Norris Ward McKinnon (Hamilton)
Wingate + Farquhar

Staples Rodway Accountants (Tauranga)
Wingate + Farquhar