Architecture awards recognise Sir Edmund Hillary visitor centre, Dunedin heritage railway

22 Nov 2024, 12:15 · RNZ

Ravenscar House Museum was opened to the public in 2021.Photo: Supplied / Sam Hartnett

A repurposed classroom 'in the clouds' of Nepal, Dunedin's Railway Station and a learning centre based on a legendary explorer are among 23 buildings recognised as the best of Aotearoa's architecture in 2024.

The winners, announced at the New Zealand Institute of Architects' 2024 Awards in Tāmaki Makaurau on Friday night, were selected from a shortlist of 48 across 11 categories.

"So many projects came from completely different walks of life, but used the vehicle of architecture to explore the potential of partnership between cultural groups. It was epic," jury convenor Caro Robertson said.

A gothic-inspired 'symbol of resilience' takes housing award

Ravenscar House Museum explores the idea of galleries as "ghost" rooms.Photo: Supplied / Sam Hartnett

After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake destroyed the Scarborough Hill home of philanthropist Jim and Dr Susan Wakefield, the couple commissioned the Ravenscar House Museum to gift their home and art collection to the public. It opened its doors in 2021.

Patterson Associates Limited architects said they wanted it to serve as "a lasting symbol of resilience" and explored the idea of galleries as "ghost" rooms.

The museum acknowledges the "gothic architectural legacy" of Christchurch.Photo: Supplied / Johannes van Kan

They also wanted to acknowledge the "gothic architectural legacy" of the city in the wake of the earthquake aftermath and managed to incorporate rubble from other damaged buildings in the city that was otherwise destined for landfill.

"As visitors move through the galleries, they transition from light to dark and vice versa, encountering subtle reminders of vanished homes, gardens, the lost city, upon new discoveries."

Transformed 'school house in the clouds' only winner in international category

NZIA said the Sir Edmund Hillary visitor centre in Khumjung Village was "a one-of-a-kind cultural project", envisioned by Auckland-based Pearson & Associates Architect, and was the only winner in the international architecture category.

A composite image of Khumjung Village (left), where the 1961 classroom built by Sir Edmund Hillary and his wife has been repurposed as a visitor centre (right), acknowledging the work of the mountaineer and the Himalayan Trust.Photo: Supplied / Sam Hartnett

The centre, which has repurposed the 1961 building Sir Edmund and his wife built as a classroom after his historic summit of Mount Everest, focuses on the many projects the mountaineer undertook in the area as well as the work of the Himalayan Trust.

"This modest 'school house in the clouds' has a huge cultural significance to the local community and Nepal at large," Pearson & Associates Architect said in their submission.

The Sir Edmund Hillary visitor centre in Khumjung Village repurposed the 1961 building Sir Edmund and his wife built as a classroom after his historic summit of Mount Everest.Photo: Supplied / Sam Hartnett

"In restoring and repurposing this building we have tried to ensure its legacy will continue into the future and maintain a positive influence on the local community and visitors to the area."

It officially opened last year in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Sir Edmund's summit.

Railway station nabs heritage award

The category 1-listed heritage building opened in 1906 as a railway station and has diversified to house a restaurant, art gallery, and the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.Photo: Supplied / Graham Warman

Salmond Reed Architects described Dunedin's restored railway station as "one of the finest examples of public architecture" in the country.

The restoration was commissioned by the city council for repairs and conservation of the category 1 heritage building.

The Dunedin Railway Station restoration project sought to maintain its original Edwardian Baroque-style aesthetic.Photo: Supplied / Graham Warman

In seeking to maintain the original Edwardian Baroque-style aesthetic, the architects had to find matching replacements for the materials used.

"The building opened in 1906 and after a long history as a railway station, is now used primarily for tourist trains and is a popular visitor attraction in its own right. The building use has diversified, now housing a restaurant, art gallery, and the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame."

Learning centre inspired by Polynesian explorer wins public architecture award

Te Taumata o Kupe Nuku at Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland is a place for people to recite and receive mātauranga Māori.Photo: Supplied / David Straight

Te Taumata o Kupe Nuku, at Te Mahurehure Marae, aims to be a place for people to "recite and receive mātauranga Māori".

The Point Chevalier building, which opened in 2022, is named after Kupe, the legendary Polynesian navigator and explorer acknowledged by some iwi as the discoverer of Aotearoa.

It was inspired by korero from kaumātua Christine and her husband John Panapa, Tā Patu Hohepa, Rereata Makiha and Julian Wilcox.

"The building's sweeping, organic form embodies the dynamism of Kupe's waka as it sailed towards Aotearoa. The glazing is like a sail with the reflection of the shifting sun and clouds making the building appear to move like a waka across the ocean," TOA Architects said in their application.

The elevated platform aims to create an illusion of the building hovering, the architects said.

Te Taumata o Kupe Nuku's form evokes a sense of movement as Kupe’s wak sailed towards Aotearoa.Photo: Supplied / David Straight

All 2024 New Zealand Architecture Awards winners

Commercial

Tuhiraki - AgResearch Lincoln Facility, Architectus and Lab-works Architecture (Ōtautahi Christchurch)
Kā Uri, Awanui, Glamuzina Architects (Kaitaia)
Deloitte Centre - Te Kaha, Warren and Mahoney Architects (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)

Education

The Pā, Architectus, Jasmax and Design Tribe (Kirikiriroa Hamilton)
University of Auckland B201 Building, Jasmax (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)
Pā Reo Campus, Tennent Brown Architects (Ōtaki)

Enduring Architecture

Cathedral Nave | Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland (1995), Professor Richard Toy (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)

Heritage

Dunedin Railway Station Restoration, Salmond Reed Architects (Ōtepoti Dunedin)
Whare Mīmīrū, Dr Anthony Hōete and Dr Jeremy Treadwell, in association (Waikato)

Housing

Wānaka S.K.I House, Roberts Gray Architects (Wānaka)
Ravenscar House, Patterson Associates (Ōtautahi Christchurch)
Gonville Pool House, Patchwork Architecture (Whanganui)

Housing - Alterations and Additions

Ridge House, Keshaw McArthur (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)

Housing - Multi Unit

Kōtuitui Terraces, Stage 2, Crosson Architects (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)
Hills Residences, Edwards White Architects (Kirikiriroa Hamilton)

Interior Architecture

Te Tihi - Aurecon Auckland, Warren and Mahoney Architects (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)

International Architecture

Sir Edmund Hillary Visitor Centre, Pearson & Associates Architects (Nepal)

Planning & Urban Design

MADE, Edwards White Architects (Kirikiriroa Hamilton)
Te Āhuru Mōwai Vision Framework, Isthmus Group (Porirua)

Public Architecture

Te Taumata o Kupe Nuku, TOA Architects (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)

Small Project Architecture

Whare Mīmīrū, Dr Anthony Hōete and Dr Jeremy Treadwell, in association (Waikato)
St Hilda's Church Renovation, First Light Studio (Pōneke Wellington)
Beach Hut, SGA - Strachan Group Architects (Coromandel)

Named Awards

Deloitte Centre - Te Kaha, Warren and Mahoney Architects - Sir Miles Warren Award for Commercial Architecture (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)
The Pā, Architectus, Jasmax and Design Tribe - Ted McCoy Award for Education (Kirikiriroa Hamilton)
Hills Residences, Edwards White Architects - Sir Ian Athfield Award for Housing (Kirikiriroa Hamilton)
Te Taumata o Kupe Nuku, TOA Architects - John Scott Award for Public Architecture (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)