2024 Wellington Architecture Awards Winner
City Gallery Wellington | Te Whare Toi (1992-1993)
This highly successful adaptive re-use of an anchor civic building is the result of an architectural relationship spanning 30 years. The original project received a National Award in 1994. The editing strategy of the original 1930s classical architecture treats all new work as a distinct layer inserted into the original building fabric, creating a clear hierarchy of old and new, as well as rich spatial experiences. The contemporary layer is deliberately reserved and serene, spotlighting the art. Elegant proportions of the original library rooms are respectfully retained, as is the main stair. Later projects, such as the Adam Auditorium, Hancock, Dean and Hirschfeld Galleries in 2009, and the reconfiguration of the main entrance in 2017, continue this successful architectural process. They are a tribute to the commitment of Stuart Gardyne, which is to be celebrated as much as the building and its enduring presence at Te Ngākau, Civic Square.
