2025 Western Architecture Awards Winner
Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery
Standing in contrast to the landmark 1919 neo-classical Sarjeant Gallery, the new extension confidently asserts its modernity while honouring place. Co-designed with Whanganui iwi and local artists, it embeds the pūrākau of Te Awa Tupua (the Whanganui River) into its form. Clad in shimmering kānapanapa black granite with projecting tioata metal nodes, the exterior catches light like the currents of the nearby river. A bold reworking of the entry sequence leads visitors into a transitional space that fuses old and new, symbolised by a finely carved waka bridge connecting the two wings. Classical proportions are echoed in the design, with existing axial lines extended to a dramatic cantilevered gallery piercing the north-eastern façade, framing views to Te Awa Tupua and Mount Ruapehu. Conceived over 25 years ago, the project has endured shifting tides of politics and public sentiment to deliver a lasting home for more than 8,000 works of art.
- Practice
- Warren and Mahoney Architects New Zealand Ltd
- Category
- Public Architecture
- Location
- Western
