New Zealand Architecture Awards 2012

We're pleased to hear this morning that our Home of the Year 2012 by Herbst Architects has picked up a New Zealand Architecture Award from the NZ Institute of Architects.

Also included in the 20 awards was Richard Naish of RTA Studio's family home in Auckland (below), a finalist in our Home of the Year award last year. The refurbishment of Wellington's Government House by Athfield Architects (below) picked up an award in the Heritage category, along with FJMT's design for the Auckland Art Gallery.

We were also delighted to see that the Lomas house in Hamilton, designed by Peter Middleton, picked up an award for Enduring Architecture (we featured Paul McCredie's photographs of it in a recent issue of HOME). This recognition for the house, unfortunately, is bittersweet, as the home's owner, Heather Lomas, passed away in March. Heather was delightful to deal with in the publication of her house and we know she would have been very pleased with the award, as she was rightfully proud of her house. Our sympathy to her friends and family.  

The New Zealand Architecture Medal, the top award given by the NZ Institute of Architects, will be presented to a single project from the list below at a ceremony in Wellington in late May.

Here's the full list of New Zealand Architecture 2012 Awards:

Commercial Architecture

ANVIL, Mt Eden, Auckland by Patterson Associates Limited

Knoll Ridge Café, Whakapapa, Mt Ruapehu by Harris Butt Architecture Ltd

Novotel Auckland Airport by Warren and Mahoney Architects

Te Wharewaka, Wellington by architecture+

Heritage

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki by FJMT + Archimedia architects in association

Government House Conservation, Wellington by Athfield Architects

Planning and Urban Design

New Lynn Transit-Oriented Development, Auckland by Architectus and Architecture Brewer Davidson Limited in association

Wynyard Quarter Urban Design Framework, Auckland by Architectus

Public Architecture

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki by FJMT + Archimedia architects in association

NMIT Arts and Media Building, Nelson by Irving Smith Jack Architects Ltd

Remarkables Primary School, Queenstown by Babbage Consultants Limited

Residential Architecture – Houses

House for Five, Grey Lynn, Auckland by RTA Studio

Tutukaka Beach House, Northland by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects (Auckland) Ltd

Owhanake Bay House, Waiheke Island by Strachan Group Architects – SGA

Under Pohutukawa, Auckland by Herbst Architects Ltd

Small Project Architecture

Mt Iron House, Wanaka by Crosson Clarke Carnachan Chin Architects Ltd

St Thomas’ Chapel in St Matthew-in-the-City, Auckland by Salmond Reed Architects Limited

Studio for an Artist, Napier by Ashley Cox Architect

Sustainable Architecture

MOTAT Aviation Display Hall, Westmere, Auckland by Studio Pacific Architecture

Enduring Architecture

Lomas House, Hamilton by Peter Middleton

Otago Boys High School Redevelopment 1982, Dunedin by McCoy and Wixon Architects Ltd

Brian MacKay-Lyons on Nine to Noon

The international member of our Home of the Year 2012 jury, Canadian architect Brian MacKay-Lyons, had a fascinating chat to Kathryn Ryan on Radio New Zealand National's Nine to Noon this morning. You can listen to the interview here:

Caine's Arcade - The beauty of a child's imagination

Many of you who read my blog know that Architecture and Design is very personal to me.  My core belief is that the world would be a much better place if we simply considered our surroundings and our actions in those surroundings a little more.

Today I saw a story about a boy who embodies those hopes more than any I have seen in recent years.  His name is Caine and he has created an amazing world solely for himself.  His work is exceptional.  His optimism is inspiring.  He sees a beautiful world that no one else sees.  Most people today see a world blighted by all sorts of problems.  Kids don't see these things.  They see opportunity and wonder.  

You hear alot about the conditions we are 'leaving to our grandchildren'.  If we empowered more kids to be like Caine, the world would be an amazing place indeed.  Please take a few minutes to watch his story (click on the link below) and show your support by sharing this in some way.

Caine's Arcade

Lance Herbst on Radio New Zealand National

Lance Herbst, one-half of our Home of the Year-winning architects Herbst Architects, was interview by Chris Whitta on Radio New Zealand National's Nine to Noon show yesterday. Here's the link to the audio:



Later this week, listen out for our Home of the Year judge, Canadian architect Brian MacKay-Lyons, speaking to Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon, on Thursday April 12 at 11.20am.

The new rules of Retail Design

It's no secret that internet retailers have been taking market share from brick and mortar stores over the last few years.  Recent numbers suggest that half of all merchandise is purchased online now as compared to about 10% a few years ago.  With that being said, large and small stores seem to be at a crossroads:  either they rebrand themselves every few years to stay relevant or they close up.  You may be familiar with JC Penney's recent re-launch including a new logo, new store design, and a new marketing campaign flaunting incredible customer consideration.  The commercials seem well timed around the election year antics where normal people go into 'angry mob' mode and start rebelling against the establishment.  All things considered, I applaud what JC Penney is trying to do.  Unfortunately, I feel they are ignoring some very basic principles of retail design.  If you plan on opening your own shop or mega store anytime soon I suggest you review the following guidelines for retail design:

1- Set the mood - There's a reason that stores like Anthropologie and Ralph Lauren spend alot of money on window dressing.  It creates an impression before you even walk in the door. If you don't have alot of window space you need to create a dramatic entry.  Most department stores ignore this completely.  You come in the store and you're knee deep in some department.  This is one of those bad habits that companies keep repeating.  User experience is everything in retail.  There's a reason that Abercrombie pumps that obnoxious cologne into the air right by the door.  You've got to grab people right at the gate or they're gone.

2- Big stores are out - Sorry department stores, but your days are numbered.  You can't stock 150,000 products and expect to make money on each one.  It's not because it can't be done, it's because web sites can do it better for less money.  The most profitable brick and mortar stores are the ones that drive the most revenue in the least footprint.  You could fit 50 Apple stores in the average Macy's.  Which one do you think makes more money?  I was surprised to see that the new JC Penney store was the same size as the old one. I would have thought they would have focused on highlighting their best selling products in a fresh new (and more efficient) environment.  Instead they've just jumbled up their departments and created a bunch of new fixtures and displays.  The problem is that it's hard to make 200,000 SF look good in a store trying to compete in the budget friendly arena. 

3- It's better to have good product than discounts - I have never gotten a coupon for 50% any drink at Starbucks.  So why are they so crowded when nothing is ever on sale?  The answer is because they spend their money on creating a good product and not giving it back in the form of a sale.  Even Wal-mart can't give you an Ipod any cheaper than the Apple store.  People will line up for something that makes them feel special but it has to be something special.  If you read the labels of the clothes at most stores, it's amazing how few of them have natural materials.  I think the Wal-mart effect has run its course and people are tired of having to replace everything they own every 6 months.  There is a movement towards quality and it's hard to do that unless you focus on a core group of products. 

4- Invest in Design - Great retail brands have iconic images. I know it sounds like common sense but companies that invest in creating more interesting environments reap the benefits of more loyal customers who spend more per purchase.  It's no coincidence that when McDonald's created a new store design prototype featuring classic mid century inspired interiors that they launched a line of new burgers and salads that are comparably priced to a real restaurant.  Better user experience equals more money.  Time and time again, Good Design is Good Business. 

These four guidelines are just the beginning of what it takes to build a retail empire.  Whether your business is a day spa or a cupcake bakery, keep in mind that creating a great user experience has to be in the DNA of the design from the early stages.  Without it, you will find yourself struggling to maintain a competitive edge against your competition.

Tell us your thoughts

Our research team is running a survey to ask what you like (or don't) about HOME. Filling it in online takes five minutes, and puts you in the draw to win Prada perfume and shopping vouchers. We'd appreciate your feedback. The survey link is here.

On film: last year's Home of the Year

For those of you who didn't see this the first time around, here's the short film we made to accompany the announcement of the Home of the Year 2011, a holiday home at Kare Kare Beach by Michael O'Sullivan of Bull O'Sullivan Architects. Yes, it's also on the west coast near Auckland, but you'll see this is a very different home to our 2012 winner. Where the home by Herbst Architects is, in parts, light and ethereal, this one has a low, compact solidity, a stealth-bomber sort of gruntiness.

The Resene Architecture and Design Film Festival

HOME is delighted to support the Resene Architecture and Design Film Festival, on at Rialto Cinemas in Newmarket, Auckland, from May 10-20. There are some terrific films in the lineup, so we highly recommend you browse Rialto's website and book your tickets here.

You can also check out our new issue for an interview with Murray Grigor, the director of Infinite Space, a documentary on the great Californian modernist John Lautner that's featuring in the festival. (Lautner's Marbrisa residence in Mexico is pictured above, photographed by Sara Sackner, Infinite Space's producer).