Hawke's Bay's Waiohiki Marae, designed by Designgroup Stapleton Elliot, was awarded a top architecture honour at the recent NZIA Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay awards. Photo / Mike Watson
Hawke's Bay's Waiohiki Marae, designed by Designgroup Stapleton Elliot, was awarded a top architecture honour at the recent NZIA Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay awards. Photo / Mike Watson
Named as a winner in the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) Awards, which include local and Gisborne designs, Waiohiki Marae’s wharenui was a winner in the Public Architecture category at the awards held at the Toitoi Municipal Building, which also won a Heritage award in Hastings on Friday.
The marae was the first port of call for many experiencing the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle last year, which killed one person and destroyed many homes in the small settlement.
Judges praised the design, spearheaded by Designgroup Stapleton Elliot, as a “testament to resilience and community spirit”, noting its commitment to sustainability and cultural integrity.
“Hau Te Ananui’s design principles, blending tradition with innovation, ensure the marae remains a cherished gathering place. ‘By the people for the people’ symbolises strength, unity and renewal,” a judge’s citation said.
In the Commercial Architecture category, Stage 1 of the $40 million Kaweka Hospital designed by Architecture HDT was praised for its “strong and colourful presence in the suburban streetscape,” and narrative of connection with the Kaweka Ranges.
The hospital, opened in 2022, has a team of 40 surgical and non-surgical specialists.
Stage 1 of the Kaweka Hospital in Hastings won an award in the Commercial Architecture category for its "strong and colourful presence" in the suburban streetscape. Photo / Mike Watson
“The roof form, textured brick facade, concrete pilasters, articulated openings and landscaping work together to present a building that contributes to a sense of urbanity and engagement with the streetscape.”
Stage two, which will cost a further $60m and be built across three levels, is on schedule for a mid-2025 opening.
The whare, opened last year, is used as a teaching space and place for those in the school community to come together for things like pōwhiri, whakatau (less-formal welcome ceremony) and their waiata mai group.
Judges complimented the relationship between Atkinson Harwood Architecture and artists, notably the carved maihi by Charles Paringatai and works by master carver Nathan Foote.
“The timber mahua serves as a spacious and inviting area for performance, fostering community and cultural celebration. Carefully selected materials and colours are in complement with context.”
Te Whare Te Manukura by Atkinson Harwood Architecture at Taikura Rudolf Steiner School opened last year and was commended in the Education category. Photo / Warren Buckland
In the Housing category, extraordinary settings were met with stunning architectural responses. The winners included homes in rural, coastal and suburban locations and one multi-unit community of 20 houses, St Aubyn Village Estate.
Judges were particularly impressed by the “seductive charm” of Tākapu by Daniel Marshall Architect, a house perched on a precipice overlooking Ocean Beach.
“Intimate scale harmonises with the grandeur of the surroundings, offering a haven of tranquillity,” the citation said.
Jury convenor and Hawke’s Bay architect Ann Galloway said it was “uplifting” to see so many high-quality projects and such positive design and building work happening in the region after the challenges Hawke’s Bay faced over the last four years.
