10 minute read
Architecture Awards
Grant Davis
Local Architecture Awards 2022
Honouring the best architecture produced in the country, the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) has revealed 12 winners in their local awards for the Nelson and Marlborough regions.
Promoting and celebrating outstanding architecture and creating greater awareness of the values and benefits well-designed buildings and public spaces can bring to cities and towns, the NZIA represents over four thousand members. The awards provide a platform for celebrating some of the most innovative and inspiring designs in the country. The architectural practices behind a thoughtful bach restoration, a series of space-enhancing classrooms, an innovative office block and a cabin deep in the bush have all scooped awards at a celebration of Nelson and Marlborough’s best architecture, held at Brancott Estate Heritage Centre in Blenheim on July 29. This year a total of 12 projects received a prestigious Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Architecture Award across seven award categories, three of which also received a Resene Colour Award. Nelson and Marlborough jury convenor, Jarrod Midgley of Rural Workshop Architecture, said there were some clear standouts among the entries that blended into the scenic surroundings of the Nelson and Marlborough districts. “All of the jury members were deeply impressed by the calibre of entries this year. Nelson and Marlborough are both scenic and tranquil areas of New Zealand, and the winning entries were humble and respectful buildings that highlighted the area’s natural beauty.” The five-person jury visited 15 shortlisted projects before selecting the 12 winners.
THIS YEARS MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
COMMERCIAL WallÉ by Irving Smith Architects. Fairfield Office Low Energy Certified by KLT Architects. EDUCATION Waimea College New Teaching Blocks by Arthouse Architects and Sheppard & Rout Architects. ENDURING ARCHITECTURE Blenheim House (1989) by Peter Beaven – Architect. HOUSING Pūponga Bach by Athfield Architects. The Cliffs House by Modo Architects. HOUSING – ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS Wakefield Quay Apartment by Arthouse Architects. Faith & Doubt by Crosson Architects. Spring Creek Revisited by Modo Architects. PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE Marlborough District Council – Public Toilet Upgrades by Arthouse Architects. SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE Honeymoon Bay Bach by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects. The Cabin by Johnstone Callaghan Architects.
Grant Davis
Jessica Jones
SPRING CREEK REVISITED Housing MODO Architects
N G & GAS -FITTING SERVICES I B M PLU
SPRING CREEK REVISTED
BY MODO ARCHITECTS
Words: Amy Russ Simon Devitt
Ahouse may have ample room when you first move in but the longer you live there the desire for extra space can grow. Such is the case with a home which has been the recipient of a prestigious Te Kahui Whaihanga News Zealand Institute of Architects Architectural Award 2022 for Nelson Marlborough in the Housing Alterations and Additions category. Set in the midst of a Marlborough vineyard with Spring Creek below and a large plain beyond bordered with hills to the to the north, south and west and Cloudy Bay to the east, it was designed by architect Brendon Monk twelve years ago. After enjoying the house for twelve years as it was, the clients contacted Brendon, now working under his own practice Modo Architects, to design an extension to increase the house’s capacity for entertaining while creating a more usable large, covered outdoor living space. The clients wanted larger internal living areas as well as an outdoor living space which could remain protected from the cold northerly winds that can blow through the area. Placing the extension to the south where the winds are less of an issue was an option but with the best views to the north and the family’s swimming pool easily visible on that side also, Brendon needed to come up with a solution that could provide the appropriate expansion while keeping it protected from the vicissitudes of the weather as need be.
The solution is a multipurpose space that can act as either an indoor or outdoor area and can be configured in different ways to suit the occasion and the climate. Another part of the renovation has been an extension to the living room. A highlight here is the oak flooring which is also used in the kitchen and in doors, trimmings and other features throughout the house. The combination of wood, black steel beams, radiata pine plywood ceilings and concrete floors and pillars provide a feeling of warmth and permanence while the expanse of glass gives an intimate sense of being part of the natural environment, even from within the kitchen which is now set back further due to the new extension in front of it.
The 317sqm home is blessed with underfloor heating. When the sun is shining, the solar panels on the roof provide the power necessary for this while a heat pump does the job on sunless days as required. High spec glazing was used for the internal space extension and the lighting was all upgraded with the replacement of more energy efficient light fittings. The owners are delighted with the renovations that have created so much more comfortable and liveable space. They didn’t want to waste money and materials on a huge extension but have ended up with a highly flexible space that feels large and inviting due to the clever and innovative design. The use of the original builders, Dave Griffiths and Wayne Flynn of Flynn & Griff Construction to undertake the renovation was integral to the success of the project as they already understood the building, the quality of finish required and the need to make the additional areas look like they had been part of the existing build. The result is an award-winning success story which will bring pleasure to generations.
FAIRFIELD OFFICE LOW ENERGY CERTIFIED
BY KLT ARCHITECTS
Words: Amy Russ Jessica Jones
Creating an environmentally-sustainable office space, including a workshop, social space, landscaping and car parking with a tiny footprint, is no mean feat. But Keryn Thompson, Director of KLT Architects rose to the challenge, whilst working for Palatchie Architecture + Design, and designed Marlborough’s first building to be certified to Passive House Low Energy Certification and only the second commercial building in the country to receive such an accolade. Taking out the Commercial Architecture award for the Fairfield Office build at the recent Architect Awards for 2022, Keryn is thrilled with the honour. “As we are just starting out, this award means a lot to us as it acknowledges our expertise and quality along with cementing our passion for sustainable architecture. It will also help us build awareness in the community around sustainable, low energy living and passive houses.” The bespoke office build incorporates recycled products and native timbers in the interior design, including a recycled rimu countertop, macrocarpa barn
slider doors and architraves, as well as locally milled Tasmanian Oak bench tops creating a refreshing, warm, and light space to do business. Shading to west and north windows via sliding external shutters and a hinged rain screen panel is utilised to eliminate overheating from the sun. A rainwater retention system is used for the building’s water supply including an outdoor hot water heat pump. Energy to the building is captured by solar panels on the workshop roof and PVC windows are housed inside the buildings thermal envelope to minimise thermal bridging and reduce heat loss. A Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery System, to prevent mould and building damage, operates continually, removing stale air and providing fresh air. Heat is recovered by a crossflow heat exchanger which transfers 95% of the unused heat in the extract air into supply air, ensuring the building stays at an optimal temperature, and formance (SIPS) panels aid with airtightness and insultation. The client wanted to use the office as a space for clients to experience and appreciate the value that energy-efficient buildings can provide and visually show them the construction methodology, says Keryn. “The interior is exposed in many places to allow this to happen. The office incorporates many environmentally-sustainable features which enabled it to achieve Passive House Institute Low Energy Building Certification. This means the building is approximately seven times more efficient than standard building code.” Drawing on her twenty-plus years of experience working in Wellington on houses and education facilities, Keryn and her team specialise in creating bespoke, high-quality, architecturallydesigned buildings for their clients. Citing open communication as the backbone of the company’s success, Keryn says each job is a full collaboration. “Fully understanding our client’s brief and what they are hoping to achieve, and taking them on the journey with us with an open dialogue throughout the journey, results in a custom space that works for their lifestyle, budget, and aesthetic.” Judges’ comments were full of praise for the awardwinning build with the citation reading, ‘The architect has created an unpretentious office for Fairfield Construction. The client brief was not just the gold standard of thermal efficiency, but a holistic approach to all aspects of sustainability in building. It is energy-efficient, economical to run, well-ventilated, and keeps users warm in winter and cool in summer. The project has sustainability as its core design motive, from the minimisation of construction waste to the reuse of recycled materials, and clearly houses Fairfield’s own environmental ethos. The result is an office space that is not only visually appealing but a great atmosphere to work in”.
Sharing similar strong values and a passion for sustainability with their client, for Keryn the collaboration was a perfect match. As Fairfield Construction are committed to reducing the amount of building waste they produce and try to recycle all building waste on-site, it was a great collaboration of industry people who wanted to see this project exceed expectations and deliver strong on its low energy status. Everyone involved was invested in the ethos of this building. Fairfield Construction Ltd coowner Katja Thompson says, “The team of Fairfield is absolutely thrilled for Keryn to win this award for the design of their office. We are delighted in the way she has brought our brief to life and has helped showcase our values towards energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.”
