FACADES, FACADES, FACADES!
Fascinating Facades & Skins Throughout New Zealand.
Many buildings can only be viewed from the street, so first impressions are essential. The facade need to be aesthetically pleasing but also perform, as New Zealand is known to have incliment weather during its seasons. This article is a list of unique facades that caught my eye during my travels.
North Island vs South Island:
The climate in the North is more temperate than that of the South. During the middle of winter, the North does not experience a significant temperature dip compared to the South Island. Therefore, these facades utilize more glass. Given the extreme temperature changes, snow, and sometimes intense winds, the Southern Island facades are more solid and must be more robust. I also hardly saw flat roofs on the South Island (mainly hip/gable) and rarely saw anything but metal roofs.
NORTH ISLAND
Auckland:
Glass Brick Facade, Edition Parnell, Auckland, by Monk Mackenzie.
Glass-reinforced Concrete Panel. Cumulus House, Auckland, by Patterson Associates.
Wire and Metal. ASB Bank North Wharf, Wynyard Quarter, by BVN Architects.
Glass. ASB Waterfront Theatr, Wynyard Quarter, by Moller Architects.
Rotorua:
Texture Concrete Precast Panel, Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, Rotorua by RCG Architects.
Metal Vertical Fins. Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Rotorua by DCA Architect.
Whangarei:
Wire and Corten Steel. Whangarei District Council, Whangarei, by Team Avery Architects.
Precast Textured Concrete Panels. Whangarei District Library, Whangarei, by Jasmax Architects.
Waitangi:
Wood Facades, Waitangi Treaty Grounds by HB Architecture.
Coromandel:
Wood. Public Toilets, Hot Water Beach, unknown Architect.
Wellington:
Metal fins. Te Wharewaka Function Centre, Wellington by architecture +.
Vertical Concrete Fins, Beehive Parlament Building, Wellington by Sir Basil Spence / Government Architect.
Metal Facade, 20 Customhouse Quay, Wellington, by Studio Pacific Architecture.
SOUTH ISLAND
Wanaka:
Wood and Steel. Wanaka Watersports Community Center, Wanaka, by Alistair Madill Architects Ltd.
Dunedin:
Vertical Glass Fins, 120 Great King Street, Dunedin, Unknown Architect.
Texture Precast Concrete and Vertical Steel Angles, Distinction Dunedin Hotel Parking Structure, by WSP Architects / Studio 4 Architects.
Vertical Metal Fin with Printed (or Ceramic) Pattern on Glass, Ōtepoti ACC Building, Dunedin by Warren & Mahoney.
Christchurch:
Aggregates of Pre-cast concrete are from 2011 earthquake-damaged bricks of cherished buildings. Ravenscar House Museum, by Patterson Associates.
Fritted Glass Facade, Botanical Gardens Visitor Center, by Patterson Associates.
Curtainwall Facade, Christchurch Art Gallery. by David Cole + Buchan Group.
43,000 Herringbone Facade Tiles, Te Pae Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre, by Woods Bagot + Warren & Mahoney
Anodized Aluminum Skin, Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct Parking by Warren and Mahoney, Opus Architekten, Cox Architecture.
Metal Ring Skin. The Crossing. Wilson + Hill Architects
Curtainwall with Glass Fins, Deloitte Office Building by Jasmax.
Salt Square Mural by Dcypher and Paul Walters of Identity Signs, Animation by George Shaw of Oi You.
Operable Exterior Metal Privacy Louvers, 47 Gloucester St Homes, by Common Architecture (Interior Video).
Polycarbonate Panel Facade, Christchurch Cardboard Transitional Cathedral, Shigeru Ban Architect.
This article is part of a series during my year-long sabbatical. If you enjoyed this article or the images, make sure to give it a like. If you loved it, follow me on Instagram and find more of my work at www.georgexlin.com.
