Ivan Mercep (22 February 1930 – 8 April 2014) 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 ...

Early life and family

Born in Taumarunui in 1930 to a

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

n family, Mercep was educated at

Sacred Heart College, Auckland , motto_translation = Take Courage And Act Manfully , type = State-integrated Day & boarding Secondary school , religion = Roman Catholic Marist , gender = Boys-only , patron ...

and

Auckland University College , 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 ...

, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1954. He married Halina Eva Trusz, and one of their sons is broadcaster

Simon Mercep Simon Mercep is a New Zealand television and radio journalist. Mercep is the son of noted architect Ivan Mercep, and is of mixed Croatian and Polish descent.

Architectural practice

Following university, Mercep spent six years working and travelling overseas, before returning to New Zealand in 1960. After working with KRTA, he entered into partnership in 1963 with Rodney Davies,

Stephen Jelicich Stephen Albert Jelicich (1 March 1923 – 19 December 2015) was a New Zealand architect and historian. Early life and family Born Stjepan Albert Jeličić on 1 March 1923 in Sućuraj, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (present-day Republic ...

and Graham Smith to form what would become JASMaD (later Jasmax, one of the largest architectural firms in New Zealand). In 1964, he became a registered architect in New Zealand. He helped design

Hoani Waititi Marae Hoani Waititi Marae is an urban marae located in West Auckland, New Zealand, West Auckland, New Zealand. The marae acts as a community hub for the Urban Māori population of West Auckland, and is the site of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waitit ...

in West Auckland and Waipapa Marae at the University of Auckland. Mercep was project architect for Samoa House / Maota Samoa on Auckland's Karangahape Road, designed to house the Samoan consulate-general, and completed in 1978. The building won a New Zealand Institute of Architects national award in 1980. File:WaipapaMarae.jpg, Waipapa Marae, University of Auckland File:K Road 2016-01-22-4.jpg, Karangahape Road elevation of Samoa House (centre left)

Honours and awards

In the

1997 Queen's Birthday Honours The 1997 Birthday Honours were announced on 14 June 1997 for the United Kingdom and on 2 June 1997 for New Zealand.New Zealand list: Queen's Birthday Honours are announced on or around the date of the Queen's Official Birthday in the United Kingd ...

, Mercep was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to architecture. He was awarded the gold medal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 2008.

References

1930 births 2014 deaths People from Taumarunui New Zealand people of Croatian descent University of Auckland alumni New Zealand architects Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit Recipients of the NZIA Gold Medal {{NewZealand-architect-stub