Cream of the crop
The 2018 Canterbury Architecture Awards celebrate the finest in architectural design, from public spaces to residential dwellings. Our picks from this year’s winners all demonstrate intelligent design, combining convenience and comfort with exquisite beauty that enriches lives on a daily basis. Award jury convener, Melanda Slemint explains what gave these winning projects the edge.
Housing Multi Unit Award – Dublin Street Townhouses
LOCATION: Christchurch City | ARCHITECT: CoLab Architecture | BUILDER: Garry Muirson Builders
Sole winner of the Housing Multi Unit Award, this inner-city complex impressed the judges on a number of fronts.
The three inner-city townhouses give a nod to the iconic ‘Christchurch style’, with gable roofs, colours and details in sympathy with the surrounding neighbourhood. Acknowledging the corner site, the gable ends are turned to address the primary street boundaries.
By bringing the three garages closer to the street, the architects' design has allowed more space for well-proportioned living areas within each dwelling, and the efficient planning is enhanced by a dynamic sectional quality to the houses.
Thoughtfully designed built-in joinery units add to the enjoyment of habitation, as does the skilful connection of interiors to outdoor areas, which will enhance everyday living.
Photography: Stephen Goodenough
Housing Award – Rhodes House
LOCATION: Merivale | ARCHITECT: PRau | BUILDER: Bradford Builders
Christchurch practice PRau received two awards: the Small Project Architecture Award for the ‘beautifully crafted and elegant’ Carters Estate Tennis Pavilion and a Housing Award for Rhodes House, a project described by the architect as a ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’.
A Carlo Scarpa drawing is full to the edges, with no opportunity for insertion; so too is this home. The devil may be in the details, but in this case the detailing has enabled the basics to work.
For the client family, the overall composition works on many levels, from the stair that compresses the entry, through to the dark steel room that allows the mind to escape. The exterior cladding enlivens the house’s suburban context and transforms the relationship between landscape and architecture.
Photography: Hazel Redmond
Housing Award – Maison Rue Jolie
LOCATION: Akaroa | ARCHITECT: Paterson Architecture Collective & Glamuzina Architects | BUILDER: Avenues Homes
An exquisite response to the French-inspired vernacular context that defines Akaroa, several clever design elements were used to create a home that is contextual, but far from literal with respect to its surroundings.
A single level gable serving as a boatshed is a restrained cue to a composition of gables that is full of surprise, delight and colour. Internal volumes are linked to the immediate outdoor spaces and harbour views beyond, and are assured in scale.
Deft touches of colour subtly reinforce the link to the wider vernacular context, and the clever use of skylights, moveable timber screens and interior vertical timber panelling creates a beautiful play of light, and imbues the house with an appropriately maritime feel.
Also winning the Resene Colour Award, this home employs a refreshing vibrant colour palette that celebrates the relaxed maritime-inspired interiors.
Photography: David Straight & Mick Stephenson
Housing Award – Ellis House
LOCATION: Fendalton | ARCHITECT: Sheppard and Rout Architects | BUILDER: Gregg Builders
An earthquake rebuild, this light, airy, contemporary form replaces the original Georgian-style brick home, meeting the mandatory requirement to maintain a similar size and footprint. The client was clearly grateful to architect David Sheppard for his help in navigating through the insurance and managed-rebuild process.
With almost every room benefitting from views and connections to the saved gardens, the internal spaces are clear yet flexible, with privacy and transparency skilfully balanced.
Photography: Jamie Armstrong
