Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects is saddened to learn that Christopher John Rodney (Rod) Smith passed away on 19 March 2023 in Katikati aged 89. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.
Rod was born in Rochdale, England in 1933. The son of an architect, his family emigrated to Hamilton in 1946 so his father could take up the position of Architect to the Waikato Hospital Board.
He started studying architecture at the University of Auckland in 1953 and started practicing in 1961.
Many of his projects are recognisable because of their Scandinavian appearance. However, it wasn’t until 1996 that Rod embarked on a Scandinavian tour and visited Finland for the first time.
Rod was very active in the Institute. He was a Waikato/Bay of Plenty Branch Chair, NZIA Councillor, convener of two Conferences (1981, 1993) and on the Joint Visiting Board (1990, 1992). He was made a Fellow of the Institute in 1975.
Many of his projects with his practice Smith, Grant and Associates were not only award-winning on completion but have received further recognition with Institute Enduring Architecture awards.
Smith House (1979) received an Enduring Architecture Award in 2013 and Miller House (1969) in 2017. The jury described the house as “immaculately restored in a way that pays the utmost respect to the original architect’s ideals."
In 2022 the L Block Lecture Theatres -The University of Waikato Te Whare Wananga o Waikato (1978) received an Enduring Architecture Award. The Jury described the lecture theatres’ as 'masterful and timeless' and their 'bold and brutal design have provided a robust teaching environment for the faculty and students of Waikato University'.
As per Rod's wishes a small private service was held last week. You can read more details of Rod's extensive career and services to architecture at "Rod Smith, Architect”, Itinerary No. 51, Block by Matthew Grant.