New Zealand’s Supreme Design

EMBARGOED until 11pm 28 October 2016

NEW ZEALAND’S SUPREME DESIGN

The 2016 SUPREME award winner of the ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Awards is thewharemate for Tanatana Marae at Waimana designed by Aladina Harunani of apa architects and project managers.

The prestigious awards received more than 149 entries and were judged by leaders in the design and architecture community. The SUPREME award winner is one of the most coveted architectural award titles in the country.

The awards were announced Friday 28 October at the ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Awards ceremony in Auckland.

Located at a riverside settlement in the heart of Tuhoe country, Tanatana marae is home to Ngāti Rere, a hapū of Ngāi Tuhoe. It is one of 12 marae along a 20km stretch of road known as the doorway from the North into Te Uruwera ranges.

Tuhoe tradition is unique in that the deceased are not mourned in the wharenui meeting house, instead in a wharemate.

Harunani was commissioned to design a wharemate for whānau to mourn over a three to four day period. The contemporary design would sit alongside a traditional wharenui.

Marae committee representative Martin Rakuraku said the temporary shelters used in the past were no longer suitable and a permanent building was required.

“Traditionally the oratory takes place outside, whether it’s rain, hail or sunshine. But we do occasionally get bad weather here and it’s important for people to be warm and comfortable,” Rakuraku said.

“We decided we wanted this new building to house the mourning family and to be a symbol of the future.”

ADNZ judge and Chief Architect at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Dr Duncan Joiner, said the symbolism within the building’s basic structure was particularly meaningful.

“You can see the big shallow arches which end like fingers stretching out and grasping the land, as well as the pou reaching up to the sky. It’s simple but enables quite complex emotions to take place. Both practically and metaphorically the design is now an integral part of the marae process. It’s not something that’s hidden away – it’s there, and the idea is boldly but very sensitively presented,” Joiner said.

Rakuraku said the new wharemate is an awesome blend of old and new… “almost spaceship like and attracts visitors from all over”.

“As well as offering his architectural expertise, Aladina’s background is similar to ours in terms of culture, which he also brought to the project. Now we are much better positioned to carry out our tikanga [spiritual practice] and we’ve got an incredible building as well,” said Rakuraku.

The wharemate design is pragmatic, accessible to elderly kaumatua and people with disabilities. There is mattress storage for sleeping arrangements and a physical connection with the wharenui. The interior comprises two main spaces – a front room where the body is placed and a sleeping space behind, where family members stay overnight. As well as providing openness and closure between the two spaces, the central patterned tukutuku panel slides vertically to reveal an LCD screen, enhancing traditional protocols with modern technology for multi-media retelling of the deceased’s life story.

ADNZ CEO Astrid Andersen said designing for very specific and complex cultural requirements demands a considerable amount of skill and sensitivity from a designer.

“It is inspiring to see a striking contemporary design, which is beautiful in its simplicity, fulfil the requirements of a complex brief. The design is a celebration of life, death, traditional life and a nod to the future. Congratulations to Aladina Harunani, what an accolade – to win a supreme award in his first year of ADNZ membership,” said Andersen.

Held annually, the ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Awards celebrate the most innovative, creative and aesthetic architectural designs across the country. Presented to architectural designers in both residential and commercial sectors, the awards acknowledge outstanding design in the categories of new homes, interiors, alterations and additions, commercial and industrial design.

The 2016 winners of the National ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Awards are:

• Aladina Harunani of apa architects & project managers for Tanatana Marae – Commercial Industrial Architectural Design Award and SUPREME Architectural Design Award (WAIMANA, BAY OF PLENTY) click thishyperlink for more information/images

• Tane Cox of Red Architecture for A-cute House – Residential Interiors Architectural Design Award (MOUNT MANGANUI, BAY OF PLENTY) click this hyperlink for more information/images

• Tane Cox of Red Architecture for Crow’s Nest – Residential Compact New Home up to 150m2 Architectural Design Award sponsored by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (RAGLAN, WAIKATO) click this hyperlink for more information/images

• Nic Curragh of Objects Ltd for Springbank Downs House – Residential New Home between 150m2 - 300m2 Architectural Design Award (CUST, CANTERBURY) click this hyperlink for more information/images

• Don Roy and Cymon Allfrey of Cymon Allfrey Architects Limited for Bradnor Road – Residential New Home over 300sqm Architectural Design Award (CHRISTCHURCH, CANTERBURY) click this hyperlink for more information/images

• Craig South of Cymon Allfrey Architects Limited for Gleneagles Terrace – Residential Multi-Unit Dwelling Architectural Design Award (CHRISTCHURCH, CANTERBURY) click this hyperlink for more information/images

• Nic Curragh of Objects Ltd for Freemans Restaurant – Commercial Interior Architectural Design Award sponsored by GIB (LYTTELTON, CANTERBURY) click this hyperlink for more information/images

• Allan McIntosh of Buildology for Lucerne Home – Residential Alterations and Additions Architectural Design Award (REMUERA, AUCKLAND) click thishyperlink for more information/images

• Ben Solomon of Nomolos for Morice and Fowler – Resene Colour in Design Award (BLENHEIM) click this hyperlink for more information/images

ENDS.

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