There were many notable entries among the submissions, including a glistening CBD office tower, a humble house that reflects the corrugated iron structures surrounding it, and a historic grandstand. Of the 23 winners, five also received a Resene Colour Award.

In the Housing category, Kahutara House by Patchwork Architecture was an example of innovation in action. It reflected the rural buildings of the Wairarapa field it sits in and references the other corrugated iron structures in an area synonymous with rural Aotearoa.

Sparrow House – also a winner in the Housing category for John Mills Architects – is a modest square floor plan that has been mirrored around a centrally located kitchen in true Palladian style to create a full kaleidoscope of bay windows. Built-in seating and covered decks span outward from the centre to extend the full perimeter of the building.

The Cricket Museum Stand Restrengthening by Shand Shelton won in the Heritage category for a raft of activities, including the refurbishment of game day seating and amenities, Cricket Wellington offices and the New Zealand Cricket Museum.

In the Commercial Category, Brandon House was given a new lease on life by Studio of Pacific Architecture. Once a 1960’s office block marked for demolition, it now looks resplendent with its new bronzed curtainwall.

“Brandon House is very deserving of its win in the Commercial category for many reasons, but the fact it was saved from demolition reflects on our desire as architects to think of the environment in our work instead of starting from scratch,” said jury convenor Belinda Tuohy of architecture+.

A notable winner in the Education category was Te Rau Karamu Marae by Athfield Architects. The jury note the impeccable details on the whakairo and tukutuku panels in the marae. Each panel represents a different tree species and depicts associated bird and insect life.

The Local Architecture Awards 2022 is a peer-reviewed programme run by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects, in association with Resene and APL. The awards run between June and August. See nzia.co.nz for more details. 

Full list of Wellington Architecture Awards winners: 

Commercial Architecture 

Brandon House by Studio of Pacific Architecture

Education 

Whitby Collegiate Classroom Pavilion by Andrew Sexton Architecture
Te Rau Karamu Marae by Athfield Architects and Te Kāhui Toi, Massey University in association

Heritage 

Cricket Museum Stand Restrengthening by Shand Shelton

Housing 

Buckley Road House by First Light Studio
Sparrow House by John Mills Architects
Beach Forest House by Makers of Architecture
Hinau Street House + Apartment by Parsonson Architects
Kahutara House by Patchwork Architecture
Matipo House by Studio of Pacific Architecture
Gable House by Three Line Studio

Housing – Alterations and Additions 

Carrington Cottage by a.k.a Architecture
Keith+Brown House by Judi Keith-Brown Architect
MJ Residence by Seear-Budd Ross

Housing – Multi Unit  

Chappell Townhouses by Bonnifait + Giesen Architects
Sunset West Apartments by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott
Party Wall by Patchwork Architecture

Interior Architecture 

Apartment C by Andrew Sexton Architecture
Te Rau Karamu Marae by Athfield Architects and Te Kāhui Toi, Massey University in association
Warren and Mahoney Wellington Studio by Warren and Mahoney Architects

Planning and Urban Design

Ōmarukaikuru by Isthmus Group

Small Project Architecture 

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori – The Māori Language Commission by RCG
Te Papa Surrealist Art: He Toi Pohewa by Warren and Mahoney Architects

Resene Colour Award

Hinau Street House + Apartment by Parsonson Architects
Sunset West Apartments by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott
Party Wall by Patchwork Architecture
Te Rau Karamu Marae by Athfield Architects and Te Kāhui Toi, Massey University in association
Te Papa Surrealist Art: He Toi Pohewa by Warren and Mahoney Architects

 The 2021 Wellington Architecture Awards jurors were: 

• Belinda Tuohy, architecture+ (convenor)
• Richard Dalman, Dalman Architects
• James Warren, Upoko Architects
• Emma Alcock, McKenzie Highman Architects 

See photo galleries and read more about these projects on our Local Awards page.