2019 Canterbury Architecture Awards Winner
Tūranga
Drawing on the golden colours and textures of the Canterbury landscape, Tūranga offers a place of refuge and outlook over the regenerating city centre. The building activates a key part of the CBD, opening up towards the cathedral and new performing arts and convention centres, and re-establishes the urban form of the square physically and culturally. A new ‘urban carpet’ sweeps through the ground floor, bringing the public realm of the square inside to evoke the act of whakamanuhiri, the ‘bringing-in’ of visitors, and the collaborations with Matapopore Charitable Trust and Ngāi Tūāhuriri are evident in the rich tapestry of ancestry, traditional knowledge and culture woven throughout Tūranga. The building’s connectivity – with people, place and culture – is exemplified by the staggered atrium and incredible staircase – a social space for gathering, reading, and resting.
- Practice
- Architectus and Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
- Category
- Public Architecture
- Location
- Canterbury