Supreme prizes at NZ Landscape Awards

Taranaki Wharf and Oriental Parade win supreme prizes at NZ Landscape Awards

Taranaki Wharf and Oriental Parade in Wellington and a private Avon River garden were the supreme winners in the New Zealand Pride of Place landscape awards announced in Christchurch tonight.

The two Wellington projects both received supreme awards, which are not handed out automatically every time.

Megan Wraight Ltd in partnership with Athfield Architects received honours for their Taranaki Wharf project while the Isthmus Group in partnership with Architecture Workshop and Tonkin and Taylor triumphed for their Oriental Bay project.

“The Taranaki Wharf project fits perfectly into the tough wind-blown Wellington working waterfront,’’ the judges said.

``It is innovative and surprising in its design. Bold moves were made to remove reclamation material and reform levels and the shape of the shoreline. The popular waterfront concourse now satisfies people on all levels.”

Judges said the Oriental Bay project was not only a bold design carried out with elegantly restrained detailing, but also showed deep insight into the cultural and physical character of the bay.

``The landscape architect played a key role in changing the original brief and in hydrological and master planning decisions. The beaches, headland, pier and promenade now constitute a superb amenity for central Wellington.”

The (garden) Landscape of the Year was awarded to Chris Goom Landscape Architects and Designers for a private Avon River garden.

Judges said the Avon River garden was a benchmark for contemporary design and construction. ``In aesthetic terms, the design is intoxicating. The cream of crisply cut Hinuera stone paving combines exquisitely with finely judged flowering plantings in creams and white. As a garden for gracious outdoor living, it offers all the ingredients – the water garden for viewing, the loggia for relaxing and entertaining, the pool and spa for a dip, and the river for boating”. A record 110 entries were in line for awards at a gala function in Christchurch tonight.

The awards showcased exceptional design projects from landscape architects, garden designers and landscape contractors the length and breadth of New Zealand.

Nominees from the two major landscape industries in the country – NZILA (New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects) and LIANZ (Landscape Industries Association of New Zealand) are called for every two years.

NZILA president Di Lucas said landscape architects work to creatively manage and change places so they express the essence and sense of place.

``The role of landscape architects is in celebrating the distinctiveness of each place. New Zealand is inherently so different than anywhere else in the world, and within our country there is amazing diversity.

``Our landscapes are the envy of the world. Therefore landscape architects have a great opportunity as well as responsibility to manage them with care,’’ Ms Lucas said.

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