The New Zealand Memorial at Hyde Park (WN09-0025-49)
6 April 2009
London’s New Zealand Memorial at Hyde Park Corner was among outstanding projects recognised at the New Zealand Institute of Architects 2009 New Zealand Architecture Awards.
Seventeen other projects were honored at the country’s premier competition for design and architecture. A maximum of three New Zealand Architecture Awards can be presented across 10 categories.
Auckland had the largest number of winning projects with eight awards and Athfield Architects Ltd was the stand-out practice with wins in five categories.
The New Zealand Memorial, a winner in the International Architecture category, was designed by a team from Athfield Architects in association with Dibble Art Company (sculptor) of Palmerston North.
It marks the enduring bonds between New Zealand and the United Kingdom and our shared sacrifice during times of war. It consists of 16 cross shaped vertical bronze standards set in formation on a grassy slope and is expected to become a focus for Anzac Day commemorations in London.
Gerald Parsonson, of Parsonson Architects, convenor of the awards jury, said: “The New Zealand Memorial is an urban design project that makes a statement in a sculptural and poetic way. The slanted cruciform stakes set in a grid pattern conjure up many images.”
The winning projects will now be considered for the New Zealand Architecture Medal, to be announced in May. Only one Medal may be awarded each year.
Judges evaluated entries against criteria that included the relationship of a building to its site and context, design quality, building form, structure and spatial qualities. User satisfaction and environmental aspects were also taken into account.
The main consideration for the judges in assessing projects is how well a project resolves key design issues and then builds on this solution to “contribute to the advancement of architecture”.
The New Zealand Architecture Awards were established by the NZIA to celebrate the innovation, creativity and excellence of projects nationwide.
See images from at our Hyde Park Memorial image gallery.