A wet and windy night in Wellington earlier this month saw us scoop two awards in the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture Pride of Place Awards.
Nomayah House on the Richmond Hills was the overall Category Winner in the Residential Single Dwelling category while Whitehaven Winery in Marlborough was given the NZILA Award of Excellence in the Commercial category.
The awards are a bi annual event showcasing the very best of New Zealand landscape architecture. Considering the high calibre of National work and the number of entries, Canopy directors Luke Porter, Heidi Stewart and Liz Gavin are incredibly proud of receiving the awards. Heidi Stewart was thrilled with the recognition saying; “Both projects were fantastic to be a part of. Working closely with the clients, architects and local contractors enabled the amazing end results that have been awarded.” Canopy has always enjoyed a strong collaborative process with clients and consultants and believe this is integral to robust and well considered design outcomes.
The judges acknowledged the simplicity and seamlessness of the final projects which were fundamental to the success of the landscape and architecture.
Nomayah House - Photo Credit: Sam Hartnett
Judge’s comments: “The Nomayah garden makes all the right moves from its spectacular rural hilltop location and 360° views over rows of grape vines and Tasman Bay. The bold planted terraces and the big lawn are scaled for their rural setting, picking up on the grain of the rural patchwork, the geometry of the surrounding landscape and the outdoor entertainment area is sophisticated in its austerity. The composition of elements, textures, and materials in both the hard and soft landscape treatment respond successfully to both the lifestyle choices of the client and the setting. The overall effect is that of a well-structured garden that integrates artfully with the simple shoe-box form of the house, the superb elevated views and the cultivated rural setting.”
Whitehaven Winery - Photo Credit: Clayton Morgan
Judge’s comments: “Anchored within the stunning geographic context of the Wairau Valley, cloaked by the Richmond Ranges to the north, Whitehaven’s restrained design approach enhances its Marlborough location. The beauty of this project has been achieved through the collaboration of design professionals with their client. The design, both landscape and architecture, is seamless with both clearly understanding the significance and strength of context; the landscape is serene, a minimalist approach, with a limited palette as it picks up the rhythm of its place. Finally, a clever orchestration of external rooms knit back to form a complete structure.”
Luke Porter, Heidi Stewart, Liz Gavin and Shea Gillison at the NZILA Awards - Photo Credit: NZILA
