Sir Ian Charles Athfield (15 July 1940 – 16 January 2015) was a New Zealand
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
. He was born in
Christchurch
Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon Rive ...
and graduated from the
University of Auckland
, mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work
, established = 1883; years ago
, endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021)
, budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021)
, chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant
, vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...
in 1963 with a Diploma of Architecture. That same year he joined Structon Group Architects, and he became a partner in 1965. In 1968 he was a principal partner in setting up Athfield Architects with Ian Dickson and Graeme John Boucher (Manson). Athfield died in 2015 due to complications from a routine procedure which resulted in pneumonia, at the Wellington Hospital, where he was being treated for prostate cancer.
Projects
In 1965 Athfield started work on his first major project, Athfield House, for his family and a studio. Located in
Khandallah
Khandallah is a suburb of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is located northeast of the city centre, on hills overlooking Wellington Harbour.
Description
The northeastern part of the suburb is dominated by a large area of park ...
, Wellington, this distinctive group of structures stands out amongst neighbouring conventional suburban houses. His early projects were constructed with a broad palette of materials including corrugated iron, plaster, stainless steel and
fibre glass. As a reaction to much of the bland "Modern" architecture of the period, Athfield built in a deliberately vernacular style using features harking back to colonial buildings. His designs incorporated finials, steeply pitched roofs, timber weatherboards, verandahs and double hung windows. He was also inspired by the architecture of the
Greek Islands
Greece has many islands, with estimates ranging from somewhere around 1,200 to 6,000, depending on the minimum size to take into account. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 and 227.
The largest Greek island by a ...
with their exterior envelopes of continuous plaster and small windows. Conversely, he also much admired the buildings of
Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe ( ; ; born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies; March 27, 1886August 17, 1969) was a German-American architect. He was commonly referred to as Mies, his surname. Along with Alvar Aalto, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius and Frank Lloyd ...
with their precise and refined detailing of industrial materials.
Yet another area of influence for Athfield was the geometric massing of the Japanese
Metabolists. Athfield combined all these disparate elements into a highly eclectic and personal style. During the 1970s Athfield built and renovated numerous domestic houses and buildings, developing a distinctive and highly personal design approach based on the repetition of small scale elements and complex massing. Critical opposition to these 'cartoon houses' did not bother him (Manson). Another criticism of Athfield's houses were that they were built for charm and not practicality. Athfield believed, however, that "in a house, you should get a surprise every time you turn a corner and look up" (Manson).
Athfield's practice expanded during the 1980s from mainly residential work to a wider variety of community and commercial buildings. As well as continuing to work on small-scale projects, his portfolio includes churches, pubs, council flats, stadiums and commercial high-rise buildings. Athfield's best known works include Telecom Towers, Civic Square and
Wellington Central Library
Wellington Central Library ( mi, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui) is a public library building in the central business district of Wellington, in New Zealand. It is owned by Wellington City Council and is listed as a Category 1 historic place by Heri ...
,
Jade Stadium
Lancaster Park, also known as Jade Stadium and AMI Stadium for sponsorship reasons, was a sports stadium in Waltham, a suburb of Christchurch in New Zealand. The stadium was closed permanently due to damage sustained in the February 2011 eart ...
in Christchurch and work on the design of the Bangkok rapid transport system.
He was a President of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, judged many design competitions and was a keynote speaker at many overseas conferences. His firm's later projects included Chews Lane Precinct, the Wellington Overseas Passenger Terminal redevelopment and the Wellington Marine Education Centre.
A documentary on Athfield, ''Architect of Dreams'', was produced for the NZ Documentary Festival.
Following the Canterbury earthquakes of
2010 and
2011, Athfield was appointed as an Architectural Ambassador to Christchurch.
Awards and honours
Athfield won over 60 national and international architecture and design awards. In 1976 he won first prize in the International Competition for the Urban Environment of Developing Countries. In 1978 he was placed first equal in a Low Cost Housing Design Competition in Fiji. He won 13
NZIA Supreme Awards for his outstanding architectural projects. In 2004 he won the New Zealand Institute of Architects' highest honour, the
Gold Medal. Athfield was the first New Zealand architect to register as an APEC architect.
Athfield was awarded the
New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. In the
1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...
, for services to architecture, and in the
2015 New Year Honours he was promoted to
Knight Companion of the same order.
He received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997 from the
University of Auckland
, mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work
, established = 1883; years ago
, endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021)
, budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021)
, chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant
, vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...
, and in 2000 he was awarded an honorary
LitD by
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand.
The university is well kno ...
. Accepting his honorary doctorate on 18 April, Athfield stated:
I accept this on behalf of architects, designers, plumbers and gas fitters. We have suffered at the hands of accountants and engineers for too long.
Notable works
* Athfield House,
Wellington
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...
(begun 1968)
* Arlington Council Flats, Wellington (1970) (demolished 2021)
* Logan House (1974–75)
Architect of Dreams
', directed by Geoffrey Cawthorn, produced by Richard Riddiford.
* Cox House, Wellington (1975)
*
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
housing project competition (1975–76)
* Porteous House (1979)
* Buck House,
Te Mata Estate,
Hawkes Bay
Hawke's Bay ( mi, Te Matau-a-Māui) is a local government region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The region's name derives from Hawke Bay, which was named by Captain James Cook in honour of Admiral Edward Hawke. The region is ...
(1980)
* First Church of Christ Science, Wellington (1982–83)
* Moore Wilson's facade, Wellington (1984)
* Logical CSI House, Wellington (1986–87)
* 226 Oriental Parade, Wellington (1988)
*
Telecom on Manners Street, Wellington (1988)
* Wellington City Library, Wellington (1991)
* Civic Square, Wellington (1992)
* Extensions to Student Union building, Victoria University of Wellington (1992)
* Palmerston North City Library extensions (1997)
*
Sam Neill
Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. Neill's near-50 year career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he has been regarded as one o ...
House,
Queenstown (1998)
* Rooftop additions to
Te Puni Kōkiri
Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK), the Ministry of Māori Development, is the principal policy advisor of the Government of New Zealand on Māori wellbeing and development. Te Puni Kōkiri was established under the Māori Development Act 1991 with responsib ...
House, Wellington (1998–99)
*
Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington (1999)
*
Alan Duff
Alan Duff (born 26 October 1950) is a New Zealand novelist and newspaper columnist. He is best known as the author of the novel '' Once Were Warriors'' (1990), which was made into a film of the same name in 1994.
Biography
Alan Duff was bo ...
House (2000)
* St Pauls Apartments, Wellington (2000)
*
Lancaster Park
Lancaster Park, also known as Jade Stadium and AMI Stadium for sponsorship reasons, was a sports stadium in Waltham, a suburb of Christchurch in New Zealand. The stadium was closed permanently due to damage sustained in the February 2011 eart ...
extensions,
Christchurch
Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon Rive ...
(with
Architectus
Architectus is a architectural firm based in Australia and New Zealand. The firm has over 300 staff with offices in Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Christchurch, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Wellington.
Architectus’ portfolio includes commerci ...
, 2002)
* Odlins Building/NZX refurbishment, Wellington (2005)
* TheNewDowse Museum,
Lower Hutt, Wellington (2006)
* Chews Lane Precinct, Wellington (2009)
* Taranaki Street Wharf, Wellington (begun 2006)
* Selwyn District Council offices, Canterbury (2007)
* Pipitea House, Wellington (2011; headquarters of the
GCSB)
* Wellington Marine Education Centre (proposed, denied by the Environment Court in 2007 on appeal; new location proposed)
* 1-8 Clyde Quay Wharf (officially opened on Wednesday, 18 June 2014), Wellington - formerly the Overseas Passenger Terminal
* Tommy Millions pizza kiosk on Courtenay Place, Wellington
* Kate Sheppard Exchange, Wellington (proposed)
* 109 Featherston Street, Wellington (proposed)
File:Arlington Flats.jpeg, Arlington Council Flats, Wellington (demolished 2021)
File:White House Te Mata.jpg, Buck House, Te Mata Estate
File:Adam Art Gallery-back.jpeg, Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington
File:Wellington Central Library.jpg, Wellington City Library (now closed for reconstruction)
File:CivicSquare.JPG, Civic Square, Wellington
File:Odlins Building, Wellington, New Zealand (7).JPG, Odlins Building/NZX, Wellington
File:Dowse art museum.JPG, Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt
File:Chews Lane June 2012.jpg, Chews Lane precinct, Wellington
See also
*
Roger Walker
*
Miles Warren
The mile, sometimes the international mile or statute mile to distinguish it from other miles, is a British imperial unit and United States customary unit of distance; both are based on the older English unit of length equal to 5,280 English ...
References
External links
Athfield ArchitectsDocumentary of Ian Athfieldon
NZ On Screen
NZ On Screen is a state-funded online promotional showcase of New Zealand television and film. Funded by NZ On Air, it provides free worldwide access to NZ-produced television, film and music videos. Content is streamed and the webpages provide ...
. Made in 1977 after winning International competition to design housing in Manila
The Wellingtonian interview: Ian Athfield, 25 June 2009
{{DEFAULTSORT:Athfield, Ian
1940 births
2015 deaths
20th-century New Zealand architects
University of Auckland alumni
Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
People from Christchurch
21st-century New Zealand architects
Recipients of the NZIA Gold Medal