KEY POINTS:
A group of adventurous and innovative Auckland houses and a collection of public works buildings from elsewhere will receive national architecture awards today.
Grafton Bridge, the sports centre at Auckland Grammar School, a Christchurch Buddhist centre, the Beehive's refurbishment and a group of houses were winners in the New Zealand Institute of Architects awards.
Jeff Fearon and Tim Hay, of Fearon Hay, were rewarded for what the judges called a "visually stunning" and extremely modern Auckland house in Westmere. "The house artfully weaves its way down a hill to the sea, through a series of diagonally-staggered structures which allow for a number of different sea views from the living areas," said the judges.
Alterations to a house in Meadowbank's Corinth St won an award for architect Daniel Marshall. The 1960s house was altered in a seamless extension which gave the family extra space for a games room, office and studio, the judges said.
Carsten Auer, of Architectus, won for the sports complex at Auckland Grammar School, which judges said "used materials and colours recalling the volcanic origins of the site and the concept of shifted terrains".
Dougal McKay of GHD won with Grafton Bridge's safety screens, a job for Auckland City Council. The laminated glass panels were part of design alterations to the bridge built in 1910 and the judges said they gave a "jewel-like quality to a much-loved icon".
Noel Lane won an award for a glazed pavilion which is the gateway and resource centre for Warkworth's Brick Bay Sculpture Trail, north of Auckland.
"The internal environment of the building was tempered with controlled openings and screens," the judges noted. The building - known as The Glass House - spans the outlet to a small lake and creates a confined space that's a picture of calm.
Andrew Barclay of Warren & Mahoney won an award for the Buddhist Community Centre in Christchurch, which the judges praised as being "a building which was contemplative and peaceful, enhancing the practice of meditation".
Warren & Mahoney were honoured for the Beehive's executive wing refurbishment, a $40 million project for the Parliamentary Service Commission. The 10-level office block was renovated beginning in June 2000 and only finished last year. "The project displays a mature rigour and stamina of detail," the judges said.
"The brief involved keeping the protected exterior of the building, designed by British architect Sir Basil Spence, but redeveloping the inside to be a more legible, lighter and more efficient area."
Architects submitted 119 entries and, of the 28 winners, 15 were houses.
