Nelson Marlborough Architecture Awards 2008

This year it has been the turn of Arthouse Architecture to co-ordinate the judging part of the Nelson Marlborough Architecture Awards. Consequently Arthouse did not enter any projects for consideration in this year's round. Min Hall was the convenor ably assisted by Brian Riley, Murali Bhaskar - an architect from the New Plymouth firm of Boon, Goldsmith, Bhaskar Team Architecture, and Matt Lawrey ,well known journalist and TV presenter who, as Min says, "Has a view on most things!"

In early August, Registered Architects from the Nelson Marlborough region and a few from further afield, who have completed projects during the last 12 months, put forward their best to be considered for the 2008 Nelson Marlborough Awards. After considering all the entries the judges shortlisted 14 and spent one weekend in September visiting each of these before selecting the actual award winners.

"We looked at buildings in Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay on the Saturday and then had a very busy day in Marlborough visiting four buildings with boat access only and a vineyard," says Min.

A wide range of projects were entered that covered the entire spectrum of the kind of work architects carry out each day - alterations to houses, school buildings, a boatshed, private houses , apartments, wineries, a supermarket and a library.

"If a project has been entered, you can guarantee that the owners are happy with the outcome of their collaboration with their architects," says Min. "It's a privileged and delightful experience to be shown projects by proud owners who have obviously got an enormous amount of pleasure both out of the process of working with their architects and with the finished result."

Whilst all shortlisted buildings did not receive awards, they still represented some very good work. At some point the judges had to draw a line in the sand and say this is where we stop. The nine award winners were announced at a function at The Boathouse on Tuesday 14 October and can be viewed on the NZIA website: