KEY POINTS:
An Auckland house named after a duck-shooting shelter has been selected as one of the 16 best private homes built in the world in the past two years.
"Maimai" in Ponsonby, designed by Auckland architects Patterson Associates, was named yesterday as a finalist in the World Architecture Festival awards to be held in Barcelona, Spain, in October.
As well as having a finalist in the private homes category, Patterson Associates also has a sports building finalist - the clubhouse at The Hills golf course in Queenstown.
Founder Andrew Patterson said having two buildings on the world shortlist was "incredibly exciting and humbling".
The Hills clubhouse featured extensively on international television coverage of the Michael Hill New Zealand Golf Open in 2006 and 2007, and won the New Zealand Institute of Architects Supreme Award 2008.
Mr Patterson said Maimai took inspiration from Pacific design, with a carved feather motif on the outside of the building, upon which striking images of the home and its surrounds were projected at night.
The building took its name from shelters used by duck hunters, which like the home offered both camouflage and vantage point - in Maimai's case a view of the Auckland cityscape.
The Hills clubhouse was one of nine sport and leisure finalists, up against the Beijing Olympics' Water Cube swimming stadium, and London's new Wembley Stadium.
"We'll be the underdogs, when you think about the size of these other commissions," Mr Patterson said. "By being selected for these finals we get to attract the interest of the world in what we're doing here."
- NZPA
