| 25 Copeland Associates Architects ARCHITECTURE New sports amenity building praised Nga Awa Block West Elevation. Photo: CAA. T T Sue Russell Well established Auckland architecture studio Copeland Associate Architects (CAA), received praise from the jury at this year’s NZIA North/West architecture awards in the Public Architecture category. The sports amenity building, located on the edge of Taihape Memorial Park, named Nga Awa Block, holds a special place in the tightknit central North Island community. Designing the building, intended to meet the needs of a number of sporting and community-based stakeholders provided CAA Associate architect, Tuhiena Bhaumik with engaging challenges to overcome, a process she says, she thoroughly enjoyed. “One of the things about working in the pubic architecture space is that often a building has to meet many needs and there’s a large investment by the community in the build, so considerable consultation is involved. In the case of Nga Awa Block this was certainly the case,” Tuhiena says. Rangitikei District Council, formulated a brief with considerable community input for the team at CAA to interpret into initial designs. With clear budget parameters set around the build, Tuhiena, who has worked at Copeland Associate Architects nearly nine years, set about developing these initial drawings around themes enchoing the environment Nga Awa Block is situated in while fulfilling the many functions the building would serve. “We wanted to ensure that in the design, materials and colour-wave developed, that the building would not only service the community well in a practical sense, but would add value to the park, held in much esteem by the community. We drew inspiration for the colour themes from the four rivers in the district and we wanted the building to have a playful sense to it as well.” Tuhiena says the project actually began at discussion stage back in 2016, with input from a number of discussion groups. She says this process was very important, given the town is full of passionate people who really care about the park and are proud of its historic grandstand. “The park isn’t only a space for a variety of sports to take place. It’s used for traditional events such as the annual A & P show and a space with community come together.” To assist with the consultation input process, Rangitikei District Council established a ‘user-group’ who held many meetings. Initially Nga Awa was designed as a oneblock form, however as discussions continued and design thinking bedded in, it became apparent it would service its purposes better to be two blocks, joined by a central causeway. “What we did was to make all the circulation areas actually work outside on the perimeter of the building, with a big umbrella structure to give covered, sheltered space beneath. After much to and froing with interest groups, the final design was settled in 2021.” Tuhiena acknowledges there were a lot of strong feelings from the community about the building, as was to be expected. The actual process of building also presented with challenges, given Taihape’s relatively isolated situation. As a result, the most efficient and effective way to build the structure was using prefabricated members, brought on to site to fit together. “One of the many benefits this gave was the time-frame to construct the building. The building was assembled from parts made in several different centres each far away from site.” The building’s form offers varied vantage points to the adjacent sporting activities, supported with a significant verandah wrapping the building’s edge. Inside, bold use of colours, in various spaces, each one representing the colour of a river in the region, brings a sense of celebration and light to the indoors. “I was on site when the jury visited and one of the things they commented was with all the children seemingly all over the building, it felt like a real community resource and an integral part of the landscape.” The elevated viewing platform has a crowsnest feel to it, with central poll extending through the centre of it from the ground below and a bold curved form providing those visiting it with wonderful views of activity below. One of the colour elements that really stands out is the bold treatment of yellow tones, not a colour often seen in public architecture. Tuhiena says inspiration for these hues came from studio Principal Barry Copeland, who observed lichen growing locally and loved the colour. Tuhiena says she was drawn to work for CAA given its fantastic portfolio of impressive sports facilities dotted around the country. “I just love interpreting building form in the public amenities space. I was fortunate to join CAA while I was completing my Masters in Architecture. It’s a very collaborative, supportive and engaging studio to be a part of.” WE OFFER: • STRUCTURAL STEEL - SFC CC3 certified • GATES AND FENCING • METALWORKS C & R Engineering proud to have worked alongside Copeland Associates Architects on the Nga Awa Block Project Phone: 06 357 7288 Website: www.crengineering.co.nz Email: info@crengineering.co.nz 19 The Cutting Way, Milson, Palmerston North PROUDLY SUPPORTING COPELAND ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS We are a specialist fire engineering consultancy providing quality design, risk and project management services. With over two decades of fire engineering experience we can advise on projects of all sizes. 06 345 2273 www.fireeng.co.nz 152 Ridgway St, Whanganui
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