Auckland Art Gallery Wins International Award

Media Release 25 June 2012

Auckland Art Gallery Wins International Award

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tmaki has won the International Award for Architectural Excellence from The Royal Institute of British Architects the first time a New Zealand building has won.

The awards, the winners of which were announced last Thursday, are given to only 12 buildings a year and recognise some of the worlds most imaginative, dramatic and green buildings. Other winners in 2012 include the worlds tallest building, the Guangzhou Finance Centre. From this round of winners, a visiting jury will select the winner of the prestigious Lubetkin Prize.

Gallery director Chris Saines said, We set out to develop a world class gallery and FJMT+Archimedias elegant and considered design has been instrumental to achieving that goal. Judged on the response of the near 600,000 visitors to date, this heritage restored and expanded building has become a flag-bearer for the citys architectural and urban design future.

The development of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tmaki was commissioned and project managed by Auckland Council and included a series of emblematic, sculpted tree-like canopies cut from massive Kauri trees that enclose the forecourt, atrium and gallery areas.

This international award comes within a month of the gallery also winning the supreme award, the New Zealand Architecture Medal, at the New Zealand Architecture Awards and the highest accolade as the countrys top commercial property development for 2012 at the annual Property Industry Awards.

Projects such as this reflect the Mayors vision to make Auckland the worlds most liveable city and are a strong benchmark for other developments and transformations in the City Centre planned by Auckland Council as part of the City Centre Master Plan.

Full list of awards won by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tmaki in 2012: 2012 Royal Institute of British Architects - International Award for Architectural Excellence

2012 NZ Museum Awards - Project Achievement Award for Museum or Gallery Development

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Auckland Art Gallery Wins International Award