2015 New Zealand Architecture Awards Winner
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery
The transformational power of modern architecture can hardly be better illustrated than in this dramatic addition to the Titirangi village. Standing boldly apart from its surroundings, yet sympathetic to its place, the gallery provides the village with a new conception of itself. The architects have understood the virtues of the site, which stands on a major ridge with spectacular views to the Manukau Harbour. Te Uru acknowledges the street with a powerful façade and a well-formed entry that leads the visitor through an engaging series of galleries, each linked by dramatic vertical spaces. This journey reaches something of a climax when the vista to the south is revealed with theatrical and arresting effect. The social effect on the local people is this building’s greatest achievement. It is surely rare for any new project to be so immediately valued and appreciated by its community.
- Practice
- Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects Ltd
- Category
- Public Architecture
- Location
- Auckland
