Architect awards include local projects

The building boom that has gripped Auckland in recent years is reflected in the 2017 Auckland Architecture Awards.

Forty-five projects have received honours this year, 13 more than in 2016 but the projects they represent are not all Auckland-based with two locals featuring among the winners.

The awards judge made an arduous tour of inspection of over 60 builds of varying categories to present to the jury.

Langs Retreat was a winner for Wendy Shacklock Architects in the Additions and Alterations category.

This was the second project Wendy had been involved with on this property and was primarily a stand-alone wing to accommodate a growing extended family on their holiday and beach sojourns.

The key design factor was to open the elevated site to the positive natural coastal aspects from all directions – the northerly expansive beaches, the westerly bush views and the sheltered westerly aspect allowing best indoor/outdoor use of afternoon sun.

“We had a great building team in Mangawhai Construction who understood the project fully and delivered just what was expected,” said Wendy.

There were similarities in the award won by Gerrard Hall Architects in the Inland Housing section in that the Mangawhai home he designed was also set to the best use of natural rural features.

Though sited on ten acres, being part of old farmland was the typology to be retained consistent with the history of the land and the bush where the house, though in three parts is still obviously linked, snuggly, to it’s surroundings.

Gerrard Hall has a close association with Mangawhai and is now on his third project in the area, keen to see and be part of Mangawhai’s future direction.

GERRARD HALL ARCHITECTS: This Mangawhai design, with it’s rustic exterior, links perfectly to it’s surroundings.

WENDY SHACKLOCK ARCHITECTS: An elevated site gives this addition superb northerly views at Langs Beach. PHOTO/Patrick Reynolds