Origin Heritage celebrates 30 years with the promotion of Kirsten Gibbs-Allen to director
Origin Heritage’s recently completed Lakes District Museum has revitalised the original 1875, R.A Lawson, design with seismic strengthening, new displays and extensive façade restoration.
Oamaru’s Waitaki Museum and Archive now occupies the cities impressive Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute built in 1882.
Origin Heritage evolved from a practice started by English-born conservation architect Jackie Gillies in the early 90s and by 2010 had developed into Jackie Gillies + Associates. The company rebranded as Origin Heritage in 2016 to continue its significant legacy of heritage work and has offices in both Arrowtown and Dunedin.
The multi-disciplinary practice consists of architects, building surveyors, archaeologists, heritage planners and historians with two of its key architects Kirsten Gibbs-Allen and Peter Burke, having worked in the United Kingdom before emigrating to New Zealand, six and 20 years ago respectively.
Coinciding with its 30-year milestone, Gibbs-Allen has been appointed as one of Origin’s directors having worked on a range of both heritage and new build projects, of varying scales, since 2014.
With extensive experience in design development (from early conceptual stages to detailed design), overseeing projects through the construction stages, carrying out contract administration roles and liaising comfortably with clients, governing bodies and industry professionals, Origin says Gibbs-Allen’s leadership is an essential component in taking on modern-day challenges in a heritage environment.
Says Origin: “With the pressures of seismic strengthening requirements, government-led intensification and development, and the country’s 2050 target of becoming carbon zero, Gibbs-Allen’s experience and design expertise is a huge asset. In addition, conservation projects require extensive knowledge of heritage construction to address these issues in a responsive and long-lasting manner.”
On her design approach, Gibbs-Allen says “Each structure we work on has its own unique set of traits and characteristics to consider, meaning our approach often needs to be quite bespoke. A lack of understanding can cause big problems.”
She explains that historic construction techniques vary, distinctive architectural features can hold great significance, and traditional materials aren’t always compatible with those used today, adding, “Our job is to make sure that interventions with heritage buildings relate to the existing design and will stand the test of time.”
Recently completed projects, including the Lakes District Museum and Waitaki Museum & Archive, showcase the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings in a modern environment, whilst current projects, the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral and First Church buildings in Dunedin, address longstanding issues with maintenance, services and functionality.
Gibbs-Allen comments “If done right, we can increase the lifespan of New Zealand’s heritage stock, whilst minimising impacts on the environment.”
