The Future of New Zealand Architecture
New Zealand currently has 14 projects shortlisted in the World Architecture Festival, which is judging over 500 projects from around the world. We have plenty of completed projects being judged, but I like to look to the future at what we have changing our public spaces in the near future.
Four future projects are currently being judged alongside an international lineup of contenders. Three of the projects are being designed by Monk Mackenzie Architects, famous for the pink Nelson St Cycleway slicing its way out of the Auckland CBD. In fact, the cycleway won best in its category at the last WAF. It wasn’t the only NZ project to pull an award either. Kopupaka Reserve, in West Auckland, has been named World Landscape of the Year at WAF in 2016.
So let’s check out what we have in the pipeline.
Monk Mackenzie and Novare, Turanganui Bridge

For the Turanganui Bridge Monk Mackenzie/Novare was the preferred pick as they were responsible for the Te Rewa Rewa bridge (whale rib cage) in New Plymouth as well as other award winning bridges in New Zealand and abroad.
Programme manager De-arne Sutherland highlighted the significance of the slipway as the closest site we now have to Te Toka a Taiau/ao. “As the closest place to this historically significant site for tangata whenua, and the site of the ‘first meetings’ between Maori and European, means the bridge is integral to realising the concept for the Tairawhiti Navigations storytelling experience.”
Monk Mackenzie Architects, Edition

Monk Mackenzie Architects, Queenstown House

Woods Bagot, Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre
The fourth piece is by Woods Bagot, which was founded in Australia and is currently the 7th largest architecture firm in the world. Their Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre is being judged in the culture category. The Christchurch Convention Centre will be a world class conference facility supported by accommodation, retail, hospitality and public transport. Much like the rest of Christchurch, it’s currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2019.
