Baches vie for leading award

Castle Rock House, Northland by Herbst Architects.

When it comes to the setting for a beautiful bach, Northland has proved itself a prime location as two of Northland's finest buildings have been shortlisted for the New Zealand Architecture Awards.

Castle Rock House at Whangarei Heads, designed by Auckland-based architects Lance and Nicola Herbst and built by Lindesay Construction, has been described as rustic and an "exemplary beach house".

The 100sq m holiday home is located on a ridge line below the bluff of Castle Rock and was built for a keen sailor and his family of four.

Rawhiti Bach, Northland by Studio of Pacific Architecture. Photo / Simon Devitt

It received a housing award in the Auckland Architecture Awards in May.

Rawhiti Bach in the Bay of Islands has also been shortlisted and won a housing award at the NZIA Auckland Architecture Awards this year.

Designed by Wellington's Studio of Pacific Architecture and constructed by Bay of Islands team Mather Builders, it was made by renovating the existing 80sq m bach belonging to Di and John Struthers.

Forty-six buildings, ranging from house alterations to a police station and from traffic interchanges to an art gallery, have been shortlisted in the awards programme.

The other buildings shortlisted include landmark buildings such as MIT Manukau and Transport Interchange and Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery in Auckland, the Treasury Research Centre and Archive in Thames, and the Isaac Theatre Royal and the Botanic Garden Visitors Centre in Christchurch.

Awards jury convenor, Auckland architect Pete Bossley said 19 of the shortlisted buildings were residential as housing projects feature strongly in the architecture awards programme.

"The range and quality of the projects on the shortlist is impressive and inspiring," he said.

"It was tough enough deciding what to leave off the shortlist, and it won't be easy choosing the buildings that will get a New Zealand Architecture Award."

The panel of judges includes Nelson architect Jeremy Smith, Wellington architect Sharon Jansen and Queensland architect Damien Eckersley, who visited all shortlisted projects last month.

The winners will be announced at a function at Te Papa in Wellington on October 30, where NZAA-winning buildings in the categories of housing, commercial and public architecture will also be considered for signature awards named for three influential New Zealand architects - Sir Miles Warren, the late John Scott and and Sir Ian Athfield.

The overall winner in the Architecture Awards receives the New Zealand Architecture Medal.