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Architecture of New Zealand

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Architecture of New Zealand is a built environment of regions, cities and towns of New Zealand, which is best known for its connection to the land between both islands, its use of local materials, and its incorporation of natural elements. New Zealand architects has been generally consistent with architectural trends in the wider Western world, with some special adaptations to compensate for distinctive New Zealand climatic and cultural factors. In a connection to the land between North and South Islands, New Zealand architecture often reflects the surrounding landscape and topography. Contemporary homes may follow the contours of the land and respond to the views of nearby natural landmarks. Although the design of New Zealand homes enhances a connection with the environment.

New Zealand's architecture is influenced by various cultures and building traditions from around the world, and the island country holds incredible works of commercial, residential, and cultural design. Some of the country's iconic buildings were built with dark basalt blocks or Oamaru stone. These projects are intimately tied to the country's past and geography.

History

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The Indigenous peoples of New Zealand, Māori, travelled from islands of the Pacific 800–900 years ago.[1] The Indigenous architecture of Māori was an 'elaborate tradition of timber architecture'.[2] Māori constructed rectangular buildings (whare) with a 'small door, an extension of the roof and walls to form a porch, and an interior with hearths along the centre and sleeping places along the walls' for protection against the cold.[3] These structures differed from those in the Pacific, but the organisation was the same with buildings centering around an open communal space, called the marae ātea.[4] Woodworking, carving and construction skills were demonstrated in 'elaborate elevated storage houses' called pataka.[5]

As a British colony, the first settlers arrived in 1839, European buildings were derivative of the European fashions of the time and most colonialists were from England so they reflected English ideas.[3] Building in stone was realised to be problematic in a land with earthquakes, and uneconomical given the abundance of timber available for construction.[2] Early civic building such as the governor generals house were built from prefabricated kit-sets.[4] There was a Gothic revival style of the 1840s–1860s, and early architects included Benjamin Mountfort and Frederick Thatcher.[3] Although prior to the 1860s there was a lack of qualified architects in the country and most buildings were designed by draughtsmen.[6]: 11  Up until the mid 1920s architects in New Zealand were trained overseas, typically in the British Isles but some trained in Denmark and Germany.[a][6]: 15–17  Most early buildings in New Zealand were made from timber due to the abundance and risk of earthquakes. shingles were the common roofing method until it was outlawed as a fire hazard with corrugated iron replacing it. Slate became more common near the end of the 19th-century with Marseilles tiles replacing it from the 1890s to 1920s.[6]: 18 

In 1900 Wise's New Zealand post office directory listed 10 architects and 4 architectural partnerships, although the number excludes architects in government employment.[6]: 11  Prior to the passing of the New Zealand Institute of Architects act in 1913 there was no legal definition of architect and many builders and draughtsmen transitioned into architecture.[6]: 15  In 1917 Auckland University opened the first school of architecture in the country, but its first professor—Cyril Roy Knight—was not appointed until 1924. Despite a domestic school many architects still travelled to Europe for training and experience and European architecture continued to influence New Zealand architecture.[6]: 17 

The community meeting house of Māori communities, whare whakairo, emerged as a form of significant architecture from the early 1940s. In 2024 there were about 1000 in use and half of them originated between 1880 and 1950. Architectural historian Deidre Brown and art history professor Ngarino Ellis describe whare whakairo as the "ultimate artistic expression of identity and tūrangawaewae" for Māori.[5][7]: 119 

Significant early colonial buildings include Stone Store, Kemp House (Kerikeri), Pompalier House, Waitangi Treaty House and Old St Paul's in Wellington.[8] In 1905 the New Zealand Institute of Architects was formed.[8]

House plans designed by Ernst and Anna Plischke

In early 20th century, from 1901 to 1930, New Zealand architects is described as a neo-Classical period, notable architecture firms include Hoggard, Prouse and Gummer, Gummer and Ford, W. Gray Young and Cecil Wood.[8]

The 1930s and 1940s was a time when suburbs were expanded with the building of many state houses, influenced by 'Britain's Garden City Cottage movement'.[5] Also In early 1930s following the Great Depression, a modernist aesthetic was introduced to New Zealand, European architect Ernst Plischke was a part of this and his wife Anna Plischke brought her European training in landscapes to influence how building related to the outside space around them.[3][9][10] American styles were also built, for example Californian Bungalow design of a single level wooden building with a verandah became very common.[11]

The concrete and glass International style of architect entered the New Zealand built landscape in the 1950s and 1960s with many new government, institutional and commercial buildings in built this style including in the brutalist style.[4] The postwar architects of Christchurch responded to modernism and brutalism with the emergence of Christchurch School in the late 1950s, considered New Zealand's only indigenous architectural vernacular to date.[12][13]

Effects of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake

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On 3 February 1931, most of Napier and nearby Hastings in Hawke's Bay was greatly damaged caused by devastating earthquake. However, New Zealand government rebuilt everything across Hawke's Bay region in an Art Deco style, which was popular at that time after the Great Depression and earthquake.

South Island developments

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University of Otago Registry Building

Many of the more imposing structures in and around Dunedin and Christchurch were built in the latter part of the 19th century as a result of the economic boom following the Otago gold rush. A common style for these landmarks is the use of dark basalt blocks and facings of cream-coloured Oamaru stone, a form of limestone mined at Weston in North Otago. Notable buildings in this style include Dunedin Railway Station, the University of Otago Registry Building, Christchurch Arts Centre, Knox Church, Dunedin, Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch, Christ's College, Christchurch, Garrison Hall, Dunedin, parts of the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings and Otago Boys' High School. Several more recent buildings have mimicked this style by using brick in place of basalt, but using lighter stone facings in an identical style to the older structures. Notable among these buildings are Otago Girls' High School and the Timaru Basilica. This region was able to call upon the talents of many fine architects during this period, among them Robert Lawson, Francis Petre, Benjamin Mountfort, and George Troup.

The St Mary's Basilica in Invercargill was designed by Francis Petre, a renowned New Zealand architect.

Oamaru stone, despite its susceptibility to the elements, is used as a major construction material on several fine buildings, most obviously in the town of Oamaru itself. The historic sector of this town contains numerous fine buildings built in this creamy stone, among them the Forrester Gallery and Waitaki District Council building. Waitaki Boys' High School is also a prime example of the use of Oamaru stone architecture.

Otago town of Ranfurly, which expanded during the 1930s, is also noted for its Art Deco architecture.

Effects of the 2010–11 Canterbury earthquakes

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Christchurch and the Canterbury Region suffered from damage to numerous heritage buildings as a result of the earthquakes in September 2010 and February and June 2011.[14]

Sustainable building

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Main article: Green building in New Zealand

Architectural education and registration

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Otago Polytechnic,Victoria University of Wellington, Unitec, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the University of Auckland train future architects.

Registered Architects

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Registered Architects in New Zealand are authorised by the New Zealand Registered Architects Board through the Registered Architects Act 2005. Other people can design buildings but there are some things only Registered Architects can do.[15] The registration process requires people to have at least a Masters qualification and a body of work.[16]

Organisations

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Germany in this context refers to German speaking states not the modern country

References

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  1. ^ Tamarapa, Awhina, ed. (2019). Whatu kākahu =: Māori cloaks. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. ISBN 978-0-9951136-3-3.
  2. ^ a b Leach, Andrew; Moulis, Antony; Sully, Nicole (1 January 2008). Shifting Views: Selected Essays on the Architectural History of Australia and New Zealand. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-7022-3660-0.
  3. ^ a b c d Swarbrick, Nancy (8 February 2005). "Creative life - Architecture'". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  4. ^ a b c Walsh, John; Barrett, Michael (1 January 2016). Koha : an offering of New Zealand architecture and design. New Zealand Institute of Architects. ISBN 978-0-473-35462-6.
  5. ^ a b c McKay, John. The story up to now. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Mew, G.; Humphris, Adrian (October 2014). Raupo to Deco. ISBN 978-1-927242-56-8.
  7. ^ Brown, Deidre; Ellis, Ngarino (1 January 2024). Ngā Whare: Architecture. University of Auckland.
  8. ^ a b c Walker, Charles (1 January 2005). Exquisite apart : 100 years of architecture in New Zealand. Balasoglou Books, New Zealand Institute of Architects. ISBN 978-0-476-01366-7.
  9. ^ "Black and white photograph of house exterior, designed by E. A. and Anna Plischke | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Women, modernity, and landscape architecture". monz.on.worldcat.org. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  11. ^ "The story up to now". NZ Institute of Architects. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  12. ^ Macintosh, Cate (18 August 2022). "Stirring send off for architectural giant Sir Miles Warren". Stuff. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  13. ^ "The Christchurch Style". Christchurch Modern. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  14. ^ Kenny, Jake (22 February 2021). "Christchurch's top 10 post-earthquake heritage restorations". Stuff. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Registered Architects Act 2005 No 38 (as at 01 July 2022), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  16. ^ "Māori architect holds fast to her language despite difficulties". Te Ao Māori News. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
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