2023 New Zealand Architecture Awards Winner
Te Pae
Aotearoa’s wild West Coast has claimed many lives over the years, making a fit-for-purpose lifeguard tower a critical piece of the community’s infrastructure. With a history of their towers succumbing to the extremely harsh marine environment, form and material selection were paramount for the largely volunteer surf life-saving teams. The selection of black oxide precast circular concrete pipe sections stacked upon each other, not only deflects the wind, but provides a strong response to the context of the local black sands. A very functional and safe spiral staircase leads to the cantilevered watch house, its operable ribbon windows, like a pair of wrap-around westie sunglasses, providing views up and down North Piha’s rugged surf coast.
- Practice
- Crosson Architects Limited
- Category
- Small Project Architecture
- Location
- Auckland
