Architecture Awards: Frills thrill judges on night of accolades

Jasmax and Salmond Reed Architects impressed the judges with their sensitive restoration of the baroque-style Britomart building in downtown Auckland.

Careful restoration and preservation of the historic former Central Post Office in downtown Auckland and Winter Garden Pavilion in Auckland Domain won awards for two architectural firms last night.

Jasmax and Salmond Reed Architects won awards for restoring the eminent buildings in a way the judges said was almost invisible but enhanced the precious structures.

Paul Clarke of Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects led the Institute of Architects judging panel, which made 40 local awards for buildings in the area from Auckland to Northland.

Jasmax and Salmond Reed Architects worked together on the 1909 imperial baroque-style Britomart building on Queen Elizabeth II Square. Salmond Reed worked alone on the Winter Garden Pavilion.

The Britomart job won a heritage and conservation award for the architects' ability to design a sensitive restoration that was virtually invisible and honoured the original design, the judges said. Separate materials and colours were used to introduce new elements, which were clearly defined.

The Winter Garden Pavilion took a community and cultural prize for the architects' skill in restoring the building to its former glory in a way that did not intrude on its intrinsic character, the judges found.

Mr Clarke said many of the new house designs harked back to the 1950s, displaying open-plan layouts, more detailing in interior fittings and a rejection of the minimalist tradition. Instead of stark white walls and large empty open areas, new houses had more detailed joinery showcasing craft skills.

Other award-winners were the Auckland Central City Library redevelopment by GHD, New Lynn War Memorial Library by Craig Craig Moller and Waitakere Central Library and Unitec Facilities by Architectus. Jasmax won for the Manurewa Aquatic and Leisure Centre, Westlake Boys High School project and Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre and Library.

Refurbishment of the Rialto cinema in Newmarket resulted in Walker Architects' win for a "fresh, new approach to the cinema lobby".

The new Foodtown supermarket at Sylvia Park won Woodhams Meikle Zhan Architects an interior design award for creating "a memorable shopping experience". Bull O'Sullivan Architecture won for the Andrew Simms Mitsubishi building at Newmarket.

But Mr Clarke said his favourite place was the Dunn House in Remuera's Arney Rd, an extension and renovation by Fearon Hay Architects.

The judges praised the house for beautifully detailed and generous work, "not ostentatious, but elegant and sophisticated".


Back to '50s

Residential award-winners this year displayed many architectural hallmarks from the 1950s, including:

* Less stark, minimalist designs and more details on stairs, in cabinetry and joinery and in lighting.

* Geometric interior design details, particularly using red, black and white on fabrics.

* Flat exterior roof and full-length glass doors to bring the outdoors in.

* Richer design details, particularly using wood floors and sarked wood ceilings.


After the demolition: A prize for the new bits

A Devonport house that sparked an Environment Court case was one of the 40 award-winners last night.

The new clifftop Jubilee Ave house on the side of North Head took a residential award for RTA Studio's "reinterpretation of an original cottage".

But in making the award, the judges made no mention of the furore the house's development caused two years ago when neighbours and Devonport Heritage protested against the loss of a 1920s art-and-craft cottage from the site.

Only one wall of the original cottage was left standing, yet the North Shore City Council had given consent only for alterations.

The Herald ran a photograph in late 2004, showing the cottage reduced to rubble.

The city council issued an abatement notice stopping work, but the home owners opposed this in the courts and got retrospective consent for demolition and for building the new house.

Environment Court Judge Craig Thompson said the history of the house "makes for rather sorry reading".

The fight over that development and another nearby in Devonport's Buchanan St sparked a review of the area's heritage zoning.

In making the award yesterday, the judges said the new Jubilee Ave house adeptly met the challenge of the heritage context.