"What's the value of that? The individuality of it, the confidence to look the city council in the eye and call their bluff. Architects should have some irreverence, ability and willingness to challenge and ask 'why should it be like this?'," Mr Cheshire said.
The 74-year-old architect was awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours. He is credited with having considerable influence on the face of Wellington, and received acclaim for his work on projects including Civic Square, Adam Art Gallery, Wellington Library and his own house. Sir Ian had described that, a white, plastered, Mediterranean-style "village", studded with turrets and circular windows, as one of his most important works.
"One of the markers or signposts has gone. He was just such a source of provocation, always with that impish humour. He had a huge respect for common people," Mr Cheshire said.
Buck House in Hawkes Bay, designed by Sir Ian.
He also praised Buck House, a private family home on the Te Mata Estate vineyard in Hawkes Bay. Sir Ian designed that house in 1980. "It's just such a strong evocation, suggesting Europe and New Zealand at the same time," Mr Cheshire said.
Marshall Cook, the institute gold medal-winning Auckland architect of Cook, Sargisson & Pirie, said Sir Ian's work ethic impressed him the most.
"He was seven days a week, full on. No one worked like him and he would do a lot of stuff for councils when he would assist them for weeks on end, even before he was appointed to the job. And he had opinions, like in Christchurch where he wanted to get rid of the one-way traffic system and he was right," Mr Cook said.
On being knighted, Sir Ian described his appointment as "a little embarrassing. The practice of architecture can never be attributed to one person. It is a contributory involvement with the people you work with and those you work for," he told the Herald.
The death came as one of his most significant yet still highly controversial new buildings nears completion: Devonport's new multimillion-dollar library in Windsor Reserve is due to open on February 2.
John Walsh, the institute's communications manager, said no other architect had such an impact here.
Sir Ian's home in Wellington is one of his most significant work.
"It's acknowledged he's the most singular New Zealand architect of the last half century because he was an original. He made a huge impact on his city for more than 30 years, followed his own path and from the early days - when he won a competition to do a squatter housing development in the Philippines - he had an international reputation because of that which was unusual back then.
"His own house is a great advertisement of everything he was about. He's influenced an enormous number of people who have worked for him. He's made a big difference and he moved into urban design.
"He was interested in large scale work, not just individual buildings so he was always very concerned with the context of what he did. He had a wide vision for architecture and he was a very enjoyable person.
"He had a huge amount of fun and a great spirit. He was a bit of a larrikin which makes the knighthood all the more enjoyable," Mr Walsh said.
Sir Ian was part of the team which realised Paul Dibble's New Zealand memorial in London's Hyde Park.
Sir Ian Athfield
• Born in Christchurch July 15, 1940
• Graduate of Auckland University
• Founded Athfield Architects 1968
• Won over 60 national and international awards
• Institute of Architects president 2006-08
• Major works: his own house in Khandallah, Wellington City Library, Civic Square in Wellington, Buck House in Hawkes Bay, Devonport Library.
