A food innovation hub, a Māori performing arts school, a water treatment and storage facility, and five other architectural designs from across Hawke’s Bay have been deemed the best in the region.
This year’s Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Local Awards for Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay were held on Friday evening.
The Foodeast - Haumoko building in Tōmoana was a triple winner in the Commercial Architecture and Interior Architecture categories, plus a Resene Colour Award.
Judges noted the use of local materials, complemented by unique textures and colours across two buildings designed to mimic rural agriculture sheds. The project uses contrasting colour palettes across the food hub and office spaces to create an inviting, dynamic atmosphere.
A double winner at the awards was the Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu by DCA Architects of Transformation and MOAA Architects in association, claiming an Education award and a Resene Colour award.
The Māori performing arts school in Hastings was noted by the jury as a place where architecture becomes a storyteller, weaving cultural narratives into the buildings using form, texture, and orientation.
The jury also noted the school’s sustainable systems, including solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and landscaping were integrated with purpose, reinforcing kaitiakitanga and a commitment to stewardship of the natural world.
Sustainability criteria were added to the awards this year in recognition of their importance and to challenge architects to consider how their work contributes to broader social, cultural, and environmental outcomes.
Jury convenor of the awards and architect Hana Scott, of Scott Architects, said in addition to sustainability, one thread that ran through almost every project the jury visited was resilience, not just in design but in delivery.
“These buildings were realised through Covid lockdowns, material shortages, fluctuating costs, and for some the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle,” Scott said.
“The fact these projects came to fruition and their teams persevered through all of this is truly worth celebrating.”
Other winners from Hawke’s Bay included:
