NZ architects finalists in global awards
30 Jul 2008
Four New Zealand buildings - two private homes, a golf clubhouse and a university business school - have been short listed for the World Architecture Festival Awards to be held in Spain this October.
The designs represent the work of three Auckland architectural practices and put New Zealand architecture up against other entries like Beijing's Olympics' Water Cube and London's new Wembley Stadium.
Two of the New Zealand nominations are Patterson Associates designs - one a private home in the Auckland suburb of Freemans Bay and the other the clubhouse at Queenstown’s exclusive Hills golf course.
Innovative design
The Freemans Bay house is named after a duck shooting shelter or "Maimai" and is inspired by Pacific design. It features a carved feather motif exterior upon which striking images of the home and its surrounds are projected at night.
Like the maimai or shelter used by duck hunters, the building offers both camouflage and a vantage point - in this case, a view of the Auckland cityscape.
The Hills clubhouse
The other Patterson Associates’ design shortlisted is the dramatic clubhouse at New Zealand jeweller Michael Hills’ private golf course,The Hills. The building won the New Zealand Institute of Architects Supreme Award 2008.
It becomes one of nine sport and leisure finalists, up against the Beijing Olympics' Water Cube swimming stadium, and London's new Wembley Stadium.
Patterson Associates says having two buildings named on the world shortlist is "incredibly exciting and humbling".
"We'll be the underdogs, when you think about the size of these other commissions," said founder Andrew Patterson.
"We're simply delighted to be there. By being selected for these finals we get to attract the interest of the world in what we're doing here in New Zealand."
Mountain Retreat
Auckland-based Fearon Hay Architects’ entry shortlisted in the Awards’ Home and Private Housing category is ‘Mountain Retreat’. The home was completed about six months ago and is situated just out of Queenstown.
"Getting recognition like this from the international architecture community really amplifies the fact that New Zealand architects can compete on the world stage," said Fearon Hay partner Tim Hay.
Fourth nomination
And the University of Auckland's new Business School and Learning Centre is the fourth New Zealand-based nominee to make the awards’ shortlist.
A collaboration between Auckland-based Archimedia and Australian firm FJMT Architects, the building was considered an ambitious project on a very difficult site.
It features a titanium inner-layer which is sandwiched between two sheets of glass for dramatic effect.
Archimedia's Neil Martin said he was "absolutely delighted" to learn of the nomination, which he said would have been helped by the dramatic and iconic form of the building.
Awards rules
One of the conditions of entry into the inaugural awards is that the architects must present their projects in person at the festival in Barcelona.
In addition to winners across 17 categories being announced, one design will be named World Building of the Year.
The 2008 awards are for buildings that were completed between January 1, 2007 and June 20, 2008.
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