NZ Architects included in international list of leading lights
for 21st century architecture

New Zealand architects, Patterson Associates has been named by the world’s top architectural journal as one of five international practices set to shape the future of architecture as leading lights in the 21st century.

A distinguished jury including some of the most acclaimed architects in the world chose Patterson Associates along with a Norwegian, Japanese, Danish and Spanish firm as the first five winners in World Architectural News’ “21 for the 21 AWARDS”, announced on Wednesday, 18 May (NZT).

The awards aim to highlight 21 architects who could be the leading lights of architecture in the 21st century: “outstanding, forward-thinking people and organisations who have the demonstrable potential to be the next big thing in the architectural world; architects whose directional ideas are helping to shape the future of architecture, whilst keeping within the boundaries of commercial viability and sustainability

The New Zealand firm’s award submission centred on a body of recent works including Mai Mai Folly (residential, Auckland), Cumulus (commercial, Auckland), AJ Hackett Bungy Centre (commercial, Queenstown), Michael Hill Golf Clubhouse (commercial, Queenstown) and Parihoa (residential, West Auckland).

After he got over his initial surprise, founder Andrew Patterson said the award was an outstanding accolade for the firm on a global stage.

“It is hugely rewarding to present our portfolio of work and have our New Zealand-inspired ideas and philosophy recognised by some of the great minds in world architecture,” he said.

Mr Patterson’s practice is well known in New Zealand for projects involving sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental issues. It is currently designing the first building in the country to be rated with 6 Stars (recognising international innovation) by the New Zealand Green Building Council.

“The projects within our submission approach architecture, environment and people in terms of New Zealand concepts around Mauri (the lifeforce which all objects contain),” Patterson said.

“All our work is underpinned by a core assumption that if a building logically belongs in its ecology, then people connected with that architecture cannot help but feel the logic in belonging there also. This is the first time ideas relating to Te Reo have been recognized on the international architectural stage.”

Patterson Associates were praised for their visually strong designs and approach to sustainability with a ‘non-nostalgic’ appearance by the international judging panel, which included acclaimed architects David West (Studio Egret West); Patrick Schumaker (Zaha Hadid Architects); Stephen Quinlan (Denton Corker Marshall LLP), Will Alsop (Alsop Architects) and Grant Brooker (Foster Associates).

The other four award winners included: Reiulf Ramstad Architects (Norway), Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos S.L.P (Spain), Atelier Ryo Abe (Japan) and JDS Architects (Denmark). Sixteen other entries were highly commended by the judges, including designs by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT), the Sydney-based architects working on the Auckland City Art Gallery project. World Architecture News says its quest for the remaining 16 firms of the 21 for the 21 list will continue over the coming years.

Andrew Patterson who is a multiple recipient of New Zealand’s highest architecture award praised the New Zealand Institute of Architects awards programme (coincidently to be announced this week).

“International recognition provides a strong endorsement of the exceptional quality of ideas in New Zealand architecture,” he said.

ENDS

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