Wellington Waterfront Limited today announced the result of the concept design competition it held last year for three building sites in Kumutoto, north of Queen’s Wharf.

Six architectural firms were short-listed as finalists; Architecture +, Architecture Workshop, Bligh Voller Nield, Athfield Architects, Studio Pacific Architecture and Warren & Mahoney.

The designs were submitted “blind” to the judging panel which was unanimous in its decision that submitter Athfield Architects presented the best design concepts for all three sites.

The panel consisted of Professor John Hunt (Professor of Architecture, Auckland University), John Melhuish (architect and member of the waterfront’s Technical Advisory Group), Bill Toomath (architect), Fran Wilde (Former Chair, Wellington Waterfront Ltd) and Ian Pike (Chief Executive, Wellington Waterfront Ltd).

Panel Convenor, Professor John Hunt said “The panel was impressed both by the strong vision that had informed the Athfield Architects’ design proposals and their clear recognition of the practical realities of viable development at this point on the waterfront.” 

The Waterfront Framework, the document which resulted from two years of consultation, states that “North Queens Wharf (Kumutoto) has a strong connection to the city’s Central Business District.  This will be reflected with a stronger sense of the city form being developed in this area through a higher proportion of buildings than on the rest of the waterfront”.

“This was a concept design competition”, says Ian Pike, Chief Executive of Wellington Waterfront Ltd. “Experience on the waterfront tells us that there can be  a long time between a concept design competition and construction starting.”

“The success of the Meridian building, and in particular the public space surrounding it, bodes well for the future.  The winning concepts for all three sites are also environmentally sustainable in their design, like the Meridian building – which has set a new standard in this area.”

‘Wellingtonians have flocked to new public spaces around that building,” Mr Pike says, “illustrating our belief that development and public use are mutually beneficial.”

For images of the winning design concepts click here

Further information on Sites 8,9 & 10 click here