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Adventurous ‘Tramper’s Hut’ takes $15,000 prize

Published: Fri 29 Jul 2005 12:11 AM
27 July 2005
Mitchell & Stout Architects win NZ Home & Entertaining 2005 Home of the Year Award
Adventurous ‘Tramper’s Hut’ takes $15,000 prize
An iconic King Country retreat designed by Auckland’s Mitchell & Stout Architects has been named the winner of the prestigious NZ Home & Entertaining Home of the Year Award 2005 mixed with Schweppes. The unique rural home styled on a tramper’s hut was designed for a family who wanted to bring their love of the outdoors in—literally.
“The house was an original interpretation of an adventurous brief,” said Claire McCall, Editor of NZ Home & Entertaining and one of three judges of the Award. “The tramping hut idea fits neatly into the New Zealand context, and as such it speaks volumes about our architectural vernacular.”
The $15,000 prize was presented to David Mitchell, Julie Stout, Julian Mitchell and Ginny Pedlow from Mitchell & Stout Architects at a red-carpet function this evening (27 July) at The Congreve House in Takapuna. Ms. Stout said the firm was delighted with the Award.
“The design for the house was the outcome of a collaborative approach by a dedicated team, and it’s fantastic to have both our work and creativity rewarded. We’re very proud of the project, and to take away one of the country’s top architectural prizes for it is superb,” said Ms. Stout. Joining Ms. McCall as judges were award-winning architects Pete Bossley and Jon Craig. Ms. McCall said that a number of the King Country home’s outstanding features had won over the panel.
“The way the front of the home cantilevers slightly above the hillside makes it appear as though it’s floating over the paddock. The living areas enjoy expansive views and the theme of adventure continues throughout—a great example is the giant rhyolite boulders lining the internal walkway. It’s an intriguing residence from start to finish,” she said. Mr. Mitchell, who is also Adjunct Professor for the UNITEC School of Architecture in Auckland, says the design reflects Mitchell & Stout’s central philosophy.
“Good architecture grows out of an imaginative response to what a client is after and what the context invites. In this case our client was after a house that ‘fitted into’ the landscape and maximised the outdoor experience. The site was a hillside surrounded with falls of rhyolite rock, so the ‘Tramper’s Hut home’ was the natural outcome of our approach.” Mr. Mitchell also paid tribute to other finalists for the Award, which included Nicholas Stevens and Gary Lawson from Stevens Lawson Architects (for two finalist designs), Dave Strachan from Strachan Group Architects, and Paul Clarke from Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects.
“We’re especially pleased to have collected the Award in such impressive company. The other architects who were finalists for the Home of the Year represent a great cross-section of the New Zealand industry, and their designs demonstrate the exceptional calibre of top-level residential architecture we have in this country.”
Continuing the focus on recognising the best of the best, this year’s Home of the Year Award—as the tenth anniversary of the Award—is also the precursor to the inaugural Home of the Decade Award.
“Home of the Decade will recognise one outstanding residence, and will be judged by Pritzker Prizewinning Australian architect Glenn Murcutt. The finalists will be the 10 winners of Home of the Year since the Award was first presented in 1996 — Home of the Decade will be ultimate accolade,” said Ms. McCall.
ENDS

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