Holy Trinity Cathedral Design Winner Announced

The new look of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell has been unveiled tonight (Monday May 7) with the announcement of a winning architectural design for a new Chapel at the south end of the Cathedral.

The winning firm is Fearon Hay.

Competition judging panel chair, David Sheppard (President-elect of the New Zealand Institute of Architects), said:

“With walls of glass and a canopy roof with applied mosaic artwork, this winning design, in its inherent simplicity and economy of means, provides a powerful starting point for achieving an inspiring, useful and ‘of its time’ Chapel. It promises to become a perfect complement to the great works of St Mary’s, Architect Towle’s Chancel, Dr Toy’s Nave and forecourt, and Jacky Bowring’s memorial gardens.”

Cathedral Dean, Jo Kelly-Moore, also a competition judge said:

“We are very excited by the vision and possibilities of Fearon Hay’s design. Each week literally thousands of people come to the Cathedral precinct, whether it is for a few quiet moments or as part of a large gathering. The dimensions of this project have as their main purpose enabling the Cathedral to better serve the people of Auckland and New Zealand. We all agreed that Fearon Hay had understood and interpreted that purpose. Like the great Cathedrals of Europe, these mighty buildings take generations to build. This is this generation’s contribution to the Cathedral.”.

The design competition was run through the New Zealand Institute of Architects and the winning design was chosen from a short list of four of the country’s top architects: Athfield Architects, Fearon Hay, Architectus, and RTA Studio and Pete Bossley in collaboration.

The design competition is part of a larger project instigated by the refurbishing and expanding of the Cathedral organ All this work will be integrated with the new Chapel to be built at the south end of the Cathedral. Also the Cathedral and St Mary’s will be linked.

It is anticipated that work on the entire project will cost in the vicinity of $10 million and commence in 2013.

“Plans are to complete everything to coincide with the bicentenary of Christianity in Aotearoa New Zealand on Christmas Day 2014” said Dean Jo Kelly-Moore.

Fundraising is already underway and, with foundational pledges in hand, work will continue on fundraising during 2012

All the designs were displayed publicly and public feedback was taken into account by the judging panel comprising president-elect of the NZIA, David Sheppard, convenor; Dean of Auckland, The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore; Archdeacon of Auckland, The Venerable Carole Hughes; and Chair of the Cathedral Resources Board, Mr David Grove.

A brief history of the Holy Trinity Cathedral site

• 1843 Bishop Selwyn bought the land for a Cathedral for Auckland. He described it as a noble site.

• 1935 publishing heiress Mina Horton bequeathed funds to build a Cathedral.

• 1959 work started on the liturgical East end (geographic South end) designed by local architect Charles Towle .

• 1973 stage 1, the sanctuary, now referred to as “the gothic section”, was first used. Until then St Mary’s Church, across Parnell Road, acted as pro Cathedral.

•1982 St Mary’s was moved across the road adjacent to the Cathedral, as St Mary’s in Holy Trinity, similar to St Margaret’s in Westminster.

• 1992 the nave, designed by Professor Richard Toy was added.

• The Cathedral is oriented so that great windows, intended for the south, look out the 5km to the volcanic cone of One Tree Hill, framed by Mt St John and Mt Hobson.

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