Roger Walker, the recipient of the New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal, will present a series of free public presentations in eight centres around New Zealand from March to June 2017.
The lectures, part of the 2017 NZIA AON New Zealand Gold Medal Tour, will precede the annual Awards functions run by each of the Institute of Architects’ eight branches.
Roger was awarded the Gold Medal – the New Zealand’s premier individual architecture honour – for an outstanding body of work over the course of a long and singular career. He was one of a generation of architects who came of age in the ’60s and ’70s in Wellington when the Capital was the site of New Zealand’s most vibrant architectural scene.
Find out about New Zealand's Gold Medal winning architects here.
It would have been very difficult to have lived in the city at that time and not encounter Roger’s architecture, whether it was buildings such as the Wellington Club on The Terrace and Park Mews by the Hataitai Tunnel, or exuberant houses that sprouted on Wellington’s hillsides.
Roger’s reputation became national with projects such as Whakatane Airport, St Mary’s in Taumaranui, Centrepoint in Masterton, and housing at Chateau Tongariro. Wide-spread imitation was one testament to his influence.
In acknowledging Roger’s significance, the New Zealand Institute of Architects praised “the wildly inventive architecture of a determinedly free spirit”.
“Roger’s career has always been characterised by adventurous endeavour and sustained by resilient optimism. He has remained relevant, whether by producing affordable kitset housing in the ’80s and ’90s or his more recent commitment to medium-density housing.”
“Roger works as hard as he ever did, and his determination to respond in a meaningful way to the building challenges of our cities and suburbs remains undiminished. In addition, he is an insightful, and humorous, commentator on New Zealand architecture and its history over the past half century.”
“His is one of the great characters of the New Zealand architectural profession, and the Institute is proud to support his speaking tour.”
The Institute of Architects has published a book to mark Roger Walker’s receipt of the Gold Medal. Copies of the book will be on sale at Roger’s lectures and can also be purchased through our online shop.
Tour schedule:
Tauranga: 17 March, 7pm; Trinity Wharf
Auckland: 26 April, 4pm; ASB Theatre
Nelson: 5 May, 3pm; The Suter Gallery
Hastings: 12 May, 4pm; Hastings Community Arts Centre
Wellington: 15 May, 6pm; ‘City Talks’ at City Gallery
Palmerston North: 19 May, 4pm; Boatshed
Christchurch: 24 May, 4pm: The Arts Centre at The Gym
Queenstown: 9 June, 4pm; Skyline
