Tauranga's award-winning buildings revealed

Papamoa Plaza has been recognised in this year's regional architecture awards. Photo/supplied

Papamoa Plaza is one of 19 buildings recognised in this year's regional architecture awards tonight.The plaza, designed by Ignite Architects, was named winner of the hospitality and retail category of the 2017 Waikato and Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards held at Tauranga Art Gallery.

Cubro, Tauranga, by Wingate Architects won the Commercial category and Karewa Parade House, Papamoa, by David Page Architect won the Enduring Architecture category.

Awards convener and Hamilton-based architect Steven Chambers said the winning works in the peer-reviewed awards programme set a high standard for architecture in the region.

"At each property we visited it was a delight to see the architects and their clients revelling in the fantastic environments they had created. It was a testimony to the positive relationships that were formed right at the very start of each project when briefs were written, and concepts were investigated," Mr Chambers said.

"Good architecture, without a doubt, is the result of positive working relationships between those who commission a building and those who design it," Mr Chambers said.

Cubro, a medical equipment supplier in Tauranga designed by Wingate Architects, was named one of two commercial award winners.

"This building is a flagship for client, contractor and architect collaboration. It will age gracefully on its prominent site," Mr Chambers said.

South Bloc, Hamilton, by Edwards White Architects was the other commercial winner.

Mr Chambers said a key part of Papamoa Plaza's success was the strategic repositioning of the foodcourt from the interior to the "light-filled, glazed public edge" - a move that "bridged the divide between community space and typical faceless suburban mall".

The awards are part of the New Zealand Architecture Awards programme run by the New Zealand Institute of Architects which has been sponsored by Resene since 1991. Through the awards, the NZIA aims to show why good architecture matters in the ongoing development of New Zealand's cities, towns and communities.

Full list of award winners by category:

Commercial Architecture
South Bloc, Hamilton, by Edwards White Architects
Cubro, Tauranga, by Wingate Architects

Education
Tarawera High School, Kawerau, by RTA Studio
New Law & Management Building, University of Waikato, Hamilton, by Opus Architecture

Enduring Architecture
Karewa Parade House, Papamoa, by David Page Architect (1972)
Miller House (1969), Hamilton, by Rod Smith Architect (Smith, Grant and Associates)

Hospitality and Retail
The Kinloch Club by Patterson Associates
Papamoa Plaza, Mount Maunganui, by Ignite Architects

Housing
Town House, Cambridge by Christopher Beer Architect
Andrews Family Home, Taupō by Bull O'Sullivan Architecture
The Splay House, Hamilton by Edwards White Architects
Farquhar House, Whangapoua by Alignworks
Sentinel House, Coromandel by Crosson Architects
Paerata Ridge House, Waiotahe by Architecture Page Henderson
Pauanui Bach by Leuschke Kahn Architects

Housing and alterations
Architect's Own, Hamilton by Architecture Bureau

Interior Architecture
IT Partners Office Fitout, Hamilton by Edwards White Architects

Planning and Urban Design
Embassy Park, Hamilton by PAUA Architects

Public Architecture
St Johns Church, Hamilton East by MOAA Architects