ADNZ/Resene 2009 National Design Awards winners

The winners of the ADNZ/Resene 2009 National Design Awards were announced at a gala dinner on Friday 16 October in Taupo.

The ADNZ/Resene Design Awards were conceived to showcase the work of New Zealand's growing number of architectural designers. Architectural Designers New Zealand Inc (ADNZ) was formed in 1966 to promote and develop the professional skills and services offered by its members, who are all specialists in building design and construction.

The National Design Awards acknowledge design excellence in residential and commercial / industrial projects, with a Supreme Winner award presented to the best overall design. In 2008, an extra award, the Sustainable Design award, was added to the existing 17 judging categories. It gives ADNZ members even further scope to demonstrate their design talents by showcasing projects with a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly design and sustainability.

The judging panel for this year's national awards comprised Tony Van Raat, Head of Unitec School of Architecture, Adrian Law, Business Development Manager of Trends Publishing and Wendy Campbell, Life Member and Past President of ADNZ.

Joining the panel for their companies' sponsored awards were: Henrietta Hiatt, Resene Paints, Graham Willocks, Gerard Roofs and Nick Gifford, James Hardie Building Products.

Tauranga-based designer Brendon Gordon from Brendon Gordon Architecture was the standout designer this year, impressing the judges with not one, but five different projects. His entries won three category awards, plus the Resene Supreme Award for the overall winner of the 2009 ADNZ/Resene National Design Awards, and earned him a finalist placing in four further categories.

The judges praised Gordon's winning entry, Dunalistair House, which also took out the award for Residential Single Dwelling over 250m2, for its provision of sheltered and contained outdoor spaces in contrast to the high levels of exposure on the site.

"The designer has created a warm and sophisticated holiday home in a country setting. With its sensitive use of natural materials, spacious and uncomplicated planning, and large open spaces, it provides an attractive environment that looks easy to use. Strong and sensitive to its environment, this is a well-considered and finely detailed house", they said.

Another of Gordon's wins came in the Residential Multi-unit Dwelling category for Skelton House in Tauranga. The judges liked its sophisticated scheme, which they felt created a sense of quality in design, materials and craftsmanship. "With a commanding presence in the street, this project reveals a complete control of details and assembly",said the judges. It is well planned with generous indoor and outdoor spaces.

Brendon Gordon’s third award was in the Residential Interiors. The “beautifully composed series of interior spaces articulated in three dimensions and connecting well to the exterior" caught the judges’ attention. They also commended Gordon for his attention to detail, choice of materials, and his sophisticated solution to the challenges of a tight site.

The Gordon Residence was also a finalist in the New Residential Dwelling up to 250m² category, which was won by Graham Sawell from Pyramidz Architecture Design Ltd for Pope House in Matakana. Its two pavilions are boldly articulated in black and white, with warm, well-planned interiors that incorporate all the living spaces on one level and connect well to the exterior.

The judges described the design as “a scheme of wonderful modesty and restraint, perfectly in tune with its rural setting. This is a satisfying and extremely cost-effective home for a retired couple."

Nelson designer Brian Johns from Brian Johns Architectural impressed the judges with his careful restoration of the historic Neudorf Hall, a B&B in Upper Moutere, Nelson. Johns’ “brave and thoughtful alteration" of a building constructed in the 1870s won the Residential Alterations and Additions award. Originally a school, Neudorf Hall has also been a community hall and home to a children’s playgroup before becoming a bed and breakfast. The judges appreciated the clarity and comprehensive nature of the alteration.

“The project is remarkable in that it involves re-siting, alterations and additions, complicated by major structural and material issues," they said. “The design transforms the old building into a series of generous new spaces that retain sound references to the older fabric."

The Kitchen award, sponsored by Applico, was won by 2008 ADNZ National Design Awards Supreme winner Noel Jessop from Noel Jessop Architecture, for his design of the Culver Kitchen in Hamilton. Jessop was faced with the challenge of removing the ‘messy parts’ of the kitchen from the house while keeping them readily accessible. The judges considered his design to be “a brilliant response to the client’s brief, with a fine attention to detail."

Another design by Jessop, the Stevenson kitchen, was the only finalist in this category. With a dramatic cantilevered bench, this kitchen was commended as “very crisp" and “sympathetic to the adjacent living spaces."

This year’s Bathroom award was presented to Cameron Cotton from Design and Light in Mount Maunganui for the bathroom in his Tauranga project Kelly House. The judges gave Cotton’s design high praise, saying “the dramatic placement of this bathroom lifts it above the ordinary. No other entry provided such a spectacular setting for the activities that bathrooms house."

In the commercial design categories, Noel Jessop took out his second award in the Commercial / Industrial category for his Downey Construction project in Hamilton.

“This is a beautifully composed collection of forms that stands out from the normal run of commercial premises," enthused the judges. “A dramatic series of blocks combines to create a sculptural element in the landscape, while a diverse selection of materials adds interest to the simple blocks."

Greg Young from Life Style Architecture in Christchurch won the Commercial Interiors category for his fit-out of the Christchurch Top 10 Holiday Park.

In response to his winning design, the judges made the following remarks: “The designer has created a smart, distinctive scheme with strong visual appeal. It looks like a good place to be."

For the second year in a row, Cymon Allfrey from Christchurch practice Stanley-Joblin and Allfrey, took out the Resene Colour Award. This year his winning entry was the Rees House in Christchurch. The judges commended Allfrey for a well-realised brief and the high standard of presentation of his entry.

“Wood is wood, concrete is concrete," they said. “These carefully coloured surfaces combine with other elements to create a beautifully balanced interior/exterior with understated style."

Nelson-based designer Mark Fielding from Ecotect Ltd, won this year’s Special Projects category for his Solabode Starter Home. His company’s goal is to create ‘green’ houses that reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. The Solabode is designed to be an affordable eco home featuring adobe-block walls and other natural and recycled materials.

“This is a well-developed project that takes issues of environmental conservation seriously," noted the judges. “It looks like a sound, comfortable and pleasant low-cost home."

Two more of Fielding’s entries, New Adobe Eco House in Motueka, and New Passive Solar Eco in Takaka, were finalists in the Sustainable Design category. Sponsored by Carter Holt Harvey and now in its second year, this award was presented to Robert Weir and Jason Walker of WeirWalker Architecture for the Club Tower in Christchurch.

“As the only entry assessed by the Greenstar NZ rating system as 5-star, this project was a clear winner," said the judges.

In fact, Club Tower is currently the only South Island building to have achieved such a rating for sustainable design, which makes it a significant landmark.

The hotly contested Roof Design award sponsored by Gerard Roofs was won by Barry Nix from Barrakuda Designs in Palmerston North for the Crothers House. The roof design of this large house on a block of land in Feilding features different angles and shapes, which make the house stand out from a distance. The judges commended Nix for his restrained use flat roofing materials.

This year’s James Hardie-sponsored Distinctive Design award went to Jason Higham from Higham Architecture for the Overend House in Christchurch. This new home was a contemporary take on the traditional Kiwi beach house with flat and low-pitch roof forms. The judges appreciated its "striking lines and playful overtones" as well as the designer’s maximisation of the site.

ADNZ Awards rookie entrant Bill Revell from Bill Revell Design took out the First Time Entrant award for his design of Lauria Way, Nelson. Revell impressed the judges with his great solution to the problem of low-cost housing.

'This project has an appealing charm and level of visual interest. It is a very good model for what can be achieved on a small budget."

Jackson + Jackson Architectural Design took out the special Practice Award, which is nominated by the members for meritorious contribution to architectural design and/or the ADNZ. Jackson + Jackson where founded in 1991 by Bob and Sue Jackson. The Practice has a history of consistent design excellence reflected in 80 ADNZ Awards since 1996.

ADNZ/Resene 2009 National Design Awards full results