Innholdsfortegnelse for November/December 2025 i Architecture NZ

“NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS GENERALLY favoured sales and private ownership, while Labour governments typically halted sales programs.” So says Bryce Wilkinson in the first of many half-truths as he introduces his bonkers proposition: ‘Owning less to achieve more: Refocusing Kāinga Ora’. He could have said “building”. Such as: “Labour governments generally favoured building state/social housing, while National governments favoured undoing all that hard work and selling them off.” Which is precisely what Wilkinson’s report for the laissez-faire lobby group, The New Zealand Initiative, is proposing – selling social housing and giving tenants vouchers to spend on rent. In the process, Wilkinson sees a substantially diminished role for Kāinga Ora where “largescale government ownership is not critical”. He’s talking about asset sales – the 77,000 homes valued at $46.7 billion, housing 198,000 people, representing…

Ngāti Te Whiti is soon to break ground on the Ngāmotu Marae in New Plymouth, to be built on hapū-owned land adjacent to Ngāmotu Beach. Close to three decades in the planning, the 1182m2 project will include a wharenui, a wharekai, ablutions and office spaces. “Once completed, the marae will provide a home base for our hapū,” says Ngāti Te Whiti Whenua Tōpu Trust Chair, Shelton Healey. “It will be not just a physical space but a living, breathing place to stand as Ngāti Te Whiti: a place where our whānau can learn who we are, connect to our history and feel a true sense of belonging.” Lead architect Murali Bhaskar says Boon Architects is “privileged to have walked alongside Ngāti Te Whiti on their journey”, with the marae forming…

The push for yield maximisation and ‘efficiency’ of design in medium-density housing (MDH) is eroding functional elements historically associated with the family home. Where design minimums are not legislated, utility spaces like storage are targeted as non-critical, running the risk of being reduced in scale or even eliminated. Storage space has become a casualty of austerity and, ironically, a symbol of a successful free market in action. Population growth coincident with the reduction of domestic storage in MDH is driving the rising demand for offsite storage facilities as necessary urban infrastructure. The private sector has embraced self-storage as a profitable asset class – cheap to build, low risk and offering stable, long-term revenue, thanks to persistent demand. Unitary Plan intensification in Auckland has driven the evolution of a new, highly…

WHEN CHRISTCHURCH BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL moved from the building it had occupied since it opened in 1881, adjacent to Canterbury College in Worcester Street, to its new site on the former Deans farm at Riccarton, it was determined to retain a link with its origins. The main entrance of the new building, designed by Guthrie Brothers, was given a porch screened by three Gothic arches, a direct quotation from W. B Armson’s original Boys’ High School. Such was the concern for the perpetuation of school traditions, however, that the granite columns supporting the central arch were removed from the Armson building and incorporated into the porch of the new school on Straven Road. Sceptics may regard this as myth-making, but Armson’s drawings and early photographs show the columns with their…

The restoration of the Chapel of the Upper Room has successfully reinstated the heart of this much-loved and admired college for Canterbury University, designed by Warren and Mahoney. The architects have sensitively inserted new structural steel elements to provide much-needed seismic bracing at the roof level, as well as wrapping the structural columns in carbon fibre in a way that appears invisible at first glance. Other areas of the chapel have been upgraded with care and thought to avoid diminishing the quality of the interior space of the Chapel. The exterior of the building remains unchanged and as it was when originally constructed in the 1960s. PROJECT TEAM ALEC BRUCE, HAMISH PEDDIE, SYBILLE SAWALL, BEN FRASER, JADE HARMON…

Constructed in 1984, Tabak House not only marked the inauguration of Sheppard & Rout as a practice but remains a compelling and relevant timepiece. Sensitively sited overlooking Governors Bay, the home’s lofty gable forms set up a rhythmic geometry where the home shifts, connects and responds to its landscape and established gardens. From the entrance, the home offers a welcoming journey of compression and expansion, where clearly articulated circulation draws connection through the home to generous double-height living spaces while delightful openings connect upper and lower levels. The integrity of the home’s structure and warm timber materiality have been carefully maintained and updated where required, ensuring its architectural authenticity can be enjoyed by all who experience the home.…

AUT Tukutuku successfully stitches together new and old buildings around a common atrium to create a new gathering place with a series of teaching spaces that creates a new heart on the AUT North Campus. The building makes and allows for connections across the site to the existing library, as well as cross-campus pedestrian connections. The teaching spaces are light filled but also control sunlight to minimise solar gain and energy consumption. The exterior of the building has been carefully modulated to control views and outlooks. The existing building has been given a light refresh within the budgetary constraints. Timber technology is deployed for the new-build elements, to reduce the carbon footprint of the building and act as an exemplar for future development. PROJECT TEAM CHRIS SCOTT, BARBARA VAN ZYL,…

This assured composition of stacked platonic forms holds its ground against the vast scale of the landscape and volatility of the environment. A corrugated roof recalls the region’s vernacular structures, while sculpted earth mounds both cradle and protect the house, settling it firmly into the foothills. Inside, geometric rigour is expressed through a nine-square grid. Sliding screens play against robust concrete elements to animate the interior, while the main suite, carved into the roof void, is crowned by an oculus that gathers light and telescopes the view. Throughout, refinement is evident in the acute attention to materiality, tonal harmony and texture: all hallmarks of a design of high calibre. PROJECT TEAM KATRINA KESHAW, XUÂN MCARTHUR NGUYEN, MATHESON WHITELEY…

The Catalina Bay Apartments set a benchmark for high-density living in the Hobsonville area, with a varied urban form and response to its context. The building cleverly sleeves a row of three-level townhouses to conceal the above-grade carparking behind, while two apartment tower blocks sit on top. The design responds to a viewshaft constraint across the site, with the building mass broken into two tower blocks of unequal heights. There is a clarity in the design outcome, with a clearly expressed structural grid of the apartment blocks, populated with infill walls and balcony zones, while the townhouses are clad in brick to distinguish them from the towers behind. The project successfully creates and establishes an urban edge to the developing precinct. PROJECT TEAM PATRICK CLIFFORD, SHANE PARKER, JAMES CRAIG, MATTHEW…

This bridge embodies an elegant and deeply woven collaboration, with all parties moving as one towards a shared vision. Serving as both gateway and threshold, it provides a vital crossing for pedestrians while framing the experience of vehicles passing beneath. More than infrastructure, it is a beautiful sculptural piece of architecture that brings dynamism and presence to a place that might otherwise have been defined by a purely functional engineering solution. The structure is deliberately held off the water to respect its cultural significance to Māori, minimising environmental impact while honouring the heritage of the site. Infrastructure is seamlessly integrated, with weathering steel delivering durability. Safety – in both use and upkeep – has been critical to the project’s success. Unlocking a robust transport network and connecting the Peacocke suburb…

Set within a dramatic alpine landscape, this restaurant adopts a simple gable form with a strong cross-axis, carefully oriented to frame views and nestled amongst the surrounding beech forest. Inside, a rich palette of natural materials evokes the atmosphere of a luxurious alpine lodge on a grand scale, while the exposed structure introduces a rhythmic order and the warmth of natural timber. The arrival sequence is anchored by a spectacular central fireplace, creating a memorable focal point for guests. Every material choice is deliberate and refined, from robust timbers to intricate detailing, with a distinctive steampunk aesthetic brought to life at the chef’s table in the open kitchen. Underpinned by a rigorous grid where all proportions trace back to this foundational order, the design achieves a balance of grandeur, intimacy…

This house demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform a remarkably small footprint into a fully realised home for a single occupant. On just 6x6 metres, the house has a simple gabled form that provides a clear and elegant presence, while the layout explores an alternative strategy for suburban living. Privacy is carefully maintained despite close proximity to neighbours, with window heights strategically set to ensure walkers and bike-riders on the adjacent walkway cannot see inside. A cleverly screened courtyard offers seclusion and intimate outdoor connection, while the recessed bath opening to the courtyard balances openness with privacy. The bedroom challenges conventional expectations of contemporary living. Beautifully detailed and meticulously considered, the project proves that scale need not compromise richness of experience, offering a compact-yet generous home that delights at every…

Recent University of Auckland MArch (Prof) graduate Janae Van Panahon was awarded second prize at the international Theatre Architecture Competition (held every four years) for her entry ‘Diwaniyat Al-Masrah: Theatre’s Gathering’. The judges found the submission’s reinterpretation of theatre space, developed in consultation with specialist Dorita Hannah, to be “one of the rare entries that looks at the local performance history as a source of inspiration with a high degree of success”. The project design links the performance space to diwaniya, which is both the act and the place of gathering for discussion and socialising in Arabic and Islamic traditions. According to the judges, the design of the intimate, flexible theatre space evokes a strong sense of interiority, informality and warmth. “Seemingly, this is a galleried space that mimics the…

Like most of the population, architects have an understanding of the circular economy that likely relies on their most frequent engagement with it: their home recycling bin. We diligently deposit our boxes, bottles and cans in the expectation that they go off to be duly sorted, processed and, somehow, returned to the flow of materials – paper, metal, glass and plastic – that generate our world. Of course, recent changes to our recycling system made it clear that many things were not in fact being recycled; a previously veiled lack of capability in local systems meant that it is more honest and efficient for a range of potentially recoverable materials to be sent straight to landfill. It is a bit the same way with construction materials. As noted in previous…

HOW DO YOU REMEMBER THINGS? DO YOU file them in your mind under fleeting moments and forget them over time, only for one of them to pop back up to the surface many years later at the sound of an ice-cream truck as it comes down the road? Do you have a collection of ephemera buried in the back of a drawer? Do inconsistencies in memory recall creep in to muddy the waters? How then to provide a foolproof way to file away an entire nation’s memory, even one for such a young country as ours? What about trying to remember the stories of two peoples sharing one land, and their efforts to live together? One way is with a national archives building, a repository for everything we want to remember…

BNZ Place successfully addresses the challenges of designing a commercial office in a seismic zone while also meeting the needs of the client and tenants. At ground level, it makes a positive contribution to the streetscape, particularly in response to Wellington’s winds. Located on one of the city’s windiest corners, the building enhances the pedestrian experience through a double-height lobby and a pre-cast concrete colonnade – elements appreciated by both occupants and passers-by. The building provides a sheltered and yet transparent outdoor rooftop space that is unusual in the context of Wellington. The form and curtain wall respond to the challenges of viewshafts, wind and the ‘skinned’ nature of high-rise structures. This is achieved through subtle variety in its curved façade and carefully spaced mullions. PROJECT TEAM NICK MOYES, PAUL HUDSON,…

A beautifully reconstructed pātaka sits at the centre of a community and has become the heart and focus of a wider educational programme for mokopuna of the local iwi to engage them in a garden-to-table educational programme. The architects have carefully measured an existing pātaka and, working in conjunction with the kaumātua, have updated the construction technology to suit the modern day built environment. It is a project which respects the past but looks to the future. PROJECT TEAM CRAIG DALGLEISH, DR RĀWIRI TINIRAU, CATHERINE MACDONALD, SHAREE DALGLEISH…

This dwelling offered a direct challenge to suburban living at the time of its conception and remains both relevant and provocative in its questioning of convention today. At its heart, a dual stair arrangement establishes circular and flexible circulation, enabling multiple uses and adapting with the changing needs of a growing family. The landscape wall extending to the exterior orchestrates layers of foreground, mid-ground and far view, situating the home within its wider context. A rigorously tested planning logic – still striking 25 years on – demonstrates how constraints of the site, including the building envelope, were navigated to remain fully compliant with the regulations while transforming limitations into opportunities. A central bathroom core anchors the plan and creates adaptability on either side, reinforcing the project’s enduring capacity for evolution.…

Positioned at the heart of the student precinct, this innovative and technologically advanced Recreation and Wellness Centre is dedicated to enhancing students’ social, physical and mental well-being. The stacked and split-sectional design is anchored around a central circulation core, where both single- and double-height spaces promote a broad range of activities. Flexibility and integrated technologies allow for spaces to change use efficiently. While the building bridges a complex change in level, its connection with the exterior environment is experienced at many levels; the subterranean pool’s roof structure doubles as a playful, faceted landscape knoll, while the open-air playing fields and track on the roof provide expansive outlooks. The external faceted stainless-steel fins reflect the surroundings and daily conditions. This project is a testament to its long-term collaborative design model. PROJECT…

Despite a constrained budget, challenging site conditions and a pre-approved envelope, this house delivers both practical and poetic solutions. An elevated walkway with a storage hut replaces the garage, enriching the arrival sequence with dual purpose. A simple box showcases efficient planning, innovative materials and the clarity of their application. Roof lights and generous apertures extend the interiors into the surrounding treescape, while the house both hovers above the forest floor and anchors itself on a raised terrace. Modest in scale, the project demonstrates the significant impact architects can deliver within tight constraints. PROJECT TEAM BEN MITCHELL-ANYON, SALLY OGLE, OLIVIA ONG, SULLIVAN HALL…

A new entry positioned between the heritage villa and rear addition unlocked the potential of this project. A clear separation of old and new is expressed through material choice and architectural detail. The two-storey addition creates a lofty, open-plan living space with a contemplative quality, seamlessly extending to a terraced garden through elegant giant steel doors. A north-facing deck edges the living area, its louvred screen wall providing privacy from the densely populated slope beyond. Meticulous detailing across both renovation and addition creates a rich dialogue between past and present. PROJECT TEAM JACK MCKINNEY, MIKE NEWBERG…

An elegantly restrained project in Feilding that reorganises an existing library facility by inserting a new axial arrangement which connects to the wider context of community and civic spaces, and provides an internal organisation device to connect new rooms and spaces with existing ones. This axis allows for multiple uses of the spaces, both during the day and after hours. The exterior interface with the street network is updated to provide points of access to the north and south, and privacy to the spaces, as well as to incorporate Māori motifs developed in conjunction with local iwi. This is a successful project that updates and reinvigorates an existing facility to provide continued use for the community. PROJECT TEAM BELINDA TUOHY, GUY NEWTON, MICHAEL BENNETT, STEPHEN POULOPOULOS, ANDREW CAMBERIS, FEDERICO VALDIVIESO…

This project successfully creates a shared space spread over four blocks of George Street in central Dunedin. The streetscape cleverly blends and prioritises pedestrian movements, together with vehicular movements, to enhance the user experience for both, as well as supporting the retail environment of the central city. Elements of play are inserted into the framework, which, together with planting and seating, provide moments of rest for children and adults alike. The design of the four blocks represents an engagement with local iwi and incorporates artwork into the built environment with paving and artworks. The project is a successful reinvigoration of the urban environment in Dunedin. PROJECT TEAM THE Ō3 COLLECTIVE — JASMAX…

A fresh and inventive approach to urban densification, this tower house by the owner-architect transformed a non-existent site into an opportunity. The architect uses the caveat of providing parking for the primary site to create interesting formal outcomes. Tackling the constraints of size, budget and buildability with flair, the building accommodates work, sleep and living across three compact levels, threaded together by a filigree spiral stair. Although the form and detailing pay homage to Roger Walker (after whom the project is named), the geometric purity of the tower and the highly resolved fenestration compositions showcase the architect’s own oeuvre. PROJECT ARCHITECT MICAH RICKARDS…

READER, YOU MAY RECALL AN earlier column I wrote, which, in turn, invited rebuttal. I remember writing it at the tail end of 2022. And here we are in 2025, with the debate on AI now omnipresent. Some regard it with the fervour of the newly radicalised, as if mania – or revelation – lies just on the other side. I’ve gone a way myself. Provoked by an invitation to argue against the motion at the Rendered Futures debate on AI and LLMs in architectural drawing, I was thrown back again into thinking about AI. The motion: “This house would adopt AI and LLMs to enhance drawing practice in Aotearoa.” And, so, I embarked on another small study, more philosophical than technical, on what AI is and what drawing does. I…

At the end of October, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation celebrated 50 years since its inception in 1975, when the School of Architecture opened with an inaugural intake of 25 students. “We have grown from the humble old houses in Kelburn Parade, to our Te Aro campus in Vivian Street and Dixon Street, and our recent expansion to Zhengzhou, China,” says Robyn Phipps, Dean of the faculty. “The programmes that we deliver have grown, also, and we have become the most comprehensive Architecture, Design and Built Environment provider in New Zealand.” Today, the Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation includes landscape architecture, industrial design, digital media, interior architecture, building science, fashion design, interaction design, construction management, construction health and safety, construction law…

Eighty-five years is a remarkable span in life, let alone for an architecture practice. Firms grow, merge and fragment. Or, through the natural course of events, some eventually fade away. CPRW has stood the test of time, evolving in response to the changing needs of clients and the times. CPRW today traces its genesis back to 1940 when it was established under the leadership of Horace Massey as Massey Beatson Rix Trott Carter & Co. Massey already had a reputation for his stately homes and civic buildings. He was one of New Zealand’s first modernists, bringing a pragmatic-yetre-fined European sensibility to the local landscape. Horace Massey was awarded four NZIA Gold Medals: a legacy that has motivated and inspired our predecessors, as well as the CPRW of today. He retired…

SLOW NEEDN’T BE A BAD WORD IN architecture. Sure, finding enough coffee and pencils to make a start can stay progress but, even once under way, response times, typing speeds and hand-overs all readily jam. The how, the where and, importantly, the when of architecture practice can’t all be cornered at juggernaut speed. With so much going on, why not jaunt your way to an architecture as if on a Sunday drive and save all that fast and furious wheel spinning. Enter Lynda Simmons, the self-proclaimed “slowest architect in Aotearoa”. Her title may be readily contested but one project every four or five years certainly dragways her to the start line, if only occasionally. Holding on to that handbrake, though, doesn’t mean she’s not living and breathing architecture as are the…

PROJECT TEAM TIM GITTOS, FLYNN LEWER, CARO ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHER: DAVID STRAIGHT JURY CITATION Craig Moller, Beth Cameron, Ilana Freadman and Nicola Herbst This project brings mixed-use amenities, common in larger cities, to provincial New Zealand. Located on a corner site, the ground-floor tenancies feature wraparound shopfronts and awnings that activate both streets. A planted courtyard enhances the street, serving as a forecourt and backdrop for the first floor apartment and providing outdoor space for the tenancies. Robust construction is balanced by innovative use of materials and colour. The apartment’s simple layout is designed to allow for future adaptive re-use. This ambitious mixed-use project serves as a model for future developments, aligning with the owner-occupiers’ intentions for a second-stage development. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The clients are both self-employed and wanted to bring…

Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery by Warren and Mahoney is a quietly powerful restoration of a much loved cultural landmark. The reinstated galleries bring light and life back into the heart of the building, while carefully integrated seismic upgrades – concrete walls almost invisible within the interior – ensure resilience without disturbing the spatial experience. New stonework and a revised parapet have been thoughtfully inserted, subtly enriching the existing fabric. A re-imagined opening elegantly links the original spaces to the new gallery additions, increasing exhibition capacity while maintaining a sense of intimacy and continuity. Through its delicate balance of heritage and contemporary intervention, the project demonstrates a rigorous attention to detail, materiality and spatial storytelling, resulting in a gallery that is both enduring and alive. PROJECT TEAM CLIFF LEONG,…

A clever insertion on a challenging, constrained site, the Adam Art Gallery encapsulates an existing landscape stair, maintaining connectivity between buildings while proposing a spatially dynamic modern gallery experience – one that continues to challenge the norms of ‘display’. The Gallery’s towering rectangular form contains a dynamic and layered interior, where the expansive volume can be experienced as a whole, as well as a vertically layered framework allowing artwork to be engaged with from many vantage points. Despite having a constrained budget at the time, the zinc clad design maximises durability, resilience and aesthetic cohesion. The building reflects the architect’s intent: one that speaks to an understated presence while ensuring enduring value and relevance 26 years on.…

PROJECT TEAM EWAN BROWN, HUGH TENNENT, JULIE COOK, CAITLYN LEE, MAURICE PIPSON, DEVO STAPLES, CHRIS BLANCH, YIWEN SEOW, BRENDA SOLON, KEVIN LUX, STEVE BORGONJE, CHLOE COLES, CLAYTON VILJOEN AND (PAST EMPLOYEES) DYLAN AMERY, ROBERT PAULIN, SHANNON LENIHAN, BEN TUNUI, WILLIAM CREIGHTON, NADIENE MCCULLOUGH. PHOTOGRAPHY: JASON MANN, ANDY SPAIN. JURY CITATION Craig Moller, Beth Cameron, Ilana Freadman and Nicola Herbst This project exemplifies forward-thinking and environmentally responsible design, achieving a Living Building Challenge outcome that sets a new benchmark for sustainable architecture. An innovative, full-timber structure, developed in close collaboration with the engineer, delivers an elegant and pioneering contribution to advancing timber technology. Warm, light-filled interiors are enriched by integrated planter boxes that recycle water, while stormwater harvesting across both buildings and extensive use of solar power underscore a holistic approach…

Completing the second stage of a two-part holiday home development, this project cleverly capitalised on a shady, under-utilised corner of the site. The compact, triangular 60-square-metre home positions itself as a landscape element within an established native garden. The form follows the sloping topography, gently stepping down, while its curved corners soften its presence on site and relationship with the existing dwelling. Openings are thoughtfully placed to frame views, and skylights bring an abundance of natural light into the space while maintaining privacy. Interior timber brings warmth, a sense of comfort and resilience, where the exterior curved forms are echoed inside, enriching the experience of the building’s form. A bunkroom loft, accessed by ladder, utilises the generous double-height space, extending the home’s capacity in a charming manner. PROJECT TEAM AMANDA…

This new addition to one of the ‘Five Sisters’ Houses’ located in Rintoul Street successfully integrates the new with the old while maintaining the identity for each. The addition engages with the perimeter of the site and provides a rare urban edge to the street in its suburban setting. The materials of the addition are carefully chosen to respect the concrete structure of the existing house but, equally, to create a juncture between the two, with subtle brick coursework and a refined treatment of the openings. The new spaces are light filled and delightfully engage with the contours of the site, providing an inventive solution to domestic living with a mix of new and old. PROJECT TEAM MARK LEONG, LUCY COOTE…

JURY CITATION Craig Moller, Beth Cameron, Ilana Freadman and Nicola Herbst The Punangairi Visitor Centre is superbly situated on its site, nestled amongst the existing nīkau with the backdrop of the Southern Alps. The building deploys a series of curved elements in plan, which, together with a sloping green roof, allows it to insert itself gently into its site while providing for views out into the trees as well as distant views of the alps. It takes advantage of the opportunities of the site to provide a sense of generosity and welcome, and enhances the surrounding outdoor spaces and lawn. Timber is used extensively to reduce its carbon footprint as well as to reflect the vertical stands of nīkau. The centre is an open and welcome addition to Punakaiki, enhancing…

Conceived as an ‘anti-house’, this project challenges convention through three buildings dispersed across the site. The pivotal social pavilion is extroverted and sculptural; its pinwheel of apertures frames and connects with the landscape. Clad in patinaed weathering steel, it encloses a luxuriously detailed interior of dark timber, stone and angled planes that create dynamic spatial experiences. In contrast, two semi buried bedroom sanctuaries are recessive and serpentine, their off-shutter concrete and light-toned interiors forming cocoon like retreats. Idiosyncratic and assertive, the project redefines the retreat typology. PROJECT TEAM NICHOLAS STEVENS, GARY LAWSON, BHAVINA LE GRICE, LIBBY NEEDHAM, YVETTE OVERDYCK, MELANIE PAU, JARED LOCKHART, SULLIVAN HALL…

An elegant response to a minimal brief, these changing sheds bring theatrical delight to Auckland’s waterfront while championing sustainable design principles. Assembled with the care and precision of fine joinery, the sheds are constructed using pre-consumer waste materials and recycled ocean plastic panels. Designed in partnership with Eke Panuku Development Auckland, the sheds not only provide vibrancy and fun for users but their requirement to perform within the public realm demanded inherent consideration to long-term resilience and safety. PROJECT TEAM AARON PATERSON, SAROSH MULLA, CARA WEBSTER, BEN KEVEY-MAIDEN…