Two of the best Bay of Plenty architectural designs were announced at the regional awards ceremony for the 2014 ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards last night.

This year three regional awards were given to the two winning Bay of Plenty designs.

The award winners were Richard Hale of Insight Architecture for Mouldey Residence and Darryl Church of Darryl Church Architecture Ltd for Redwood Visitors Centre Public Toilets.

Redwoods Toilets
Redwoods Toilets

In addition to the two award winning designs, two highly commended awards were announced. The highly commended designs were Turner Residence by Jason Macdonald of JMAC Architectural Design Ltd and House on Hazel by Robin Baillie of Baillie Architecture Ltd.

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Held annually, the awards celebrate the most innovative, impressive and considered architectural designs in the country.

The awards recognise successful design in residential and commercial architecture across a range of categories including new homes, interiors, alterations and additions and industrial design.

The regional awards, which are currently being announced across the country, will be followed by the national awards to be held at a gala ceremony in the Bay of Islands on Friday, September 26.

Architectural Designers New Zealand GM, Astrid Andersen, said the quality of the award entries was lifted each year.

"Entries to the awards have had a steady and impressive improvement, which makes it even harder to select the award winning designs! This year we have had a wonderful panel of experienced judges and this only adds to the quality and standard of the awards. The Bay of Plenty always presents with its own unique design aesthetic, and it is always exciting to see.

"We are consistently impressed by the creativity and provocativeness of our members. They face the challenges of design head on and come back with amazing concepts that astound and impress."

Judges said the strongest category of the year's awards was small to medium homes.

Award winners:
Mouldey Residence by Richard Hale of Insight Architecture
Location: Papamoa Beach Road, Tauranga
Award: Residential New Home Between 150m2 and 300m2 Architectural Design Award (sponsored by Gerard Roofs)
Description: This four bedroom, three level beach haven with split level access from the entry up to the gallery wraps around the courtyard to enable multiple room access to the lap pool and outdoor areas. The gallery then leads up to the main living area via polished concrete steps and a unispan floor. The master bedroom retreat has sea views and a private balcony.
Judge's comments: This thoughtful composition of stacked box forms on a tight urban site is intensely planned and meticulously resolved.

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Darryl Church of Darryl Church Architecture Ltd for Redwood Visitors Centre - Public Toilets
Location: Redwood Forest, Long Mile Drive, Rotorua
Award: Commercial/Industrial Architectural Design Award and Resene Colour in Design Award
Description: The Redwood forest is internationally recognised with two prestigious Green Flag awards. Thousands of locals, nationals and internationals visit the Redwood Park each year.
Description: The Redwood Visitor Centre Toilets are an artistic and sensitive response to an area of high natural beauty. The toilets are randomly inserted amongst the giant redwood grove. While the function of the toilets remains uncompromising, the laser cut steel shrouds transform into landscape art. The laser cut patterns are Maori inspired and each shroud depicts a native bird. The cylindrical corten steel inherits a patina and form that acknowledges the redwoods. The toilets appear in harmony with the surrounds so not to compete with the real attraction, but at the same time have become an attraction in their own right.
Judge's comments: A wildly inventive but charming response to potentially a very ordinary brief. Integrating architecture and art, the vivid use of colour, form and light sits wonderfully within its forest context. Even if you didn't want to "go" - you will want to rest awhile to enjoy the experience. This will be a future tourist attraction.