Willard Street wins architecture award
Willard Street, designed by South by Southeast Ltd, is one of three winners in the Housing: Multi Unit category in the 2024 Canterbury Architecture Awards.
ŌCHT’s 35-home Willard Street community is lauded for “setting the standard of economic social housing" in winning a regional architecture award.
The South by Southeast Ltd-designed community is one of three winners in the Housing: Multi Unit category in the 2024 Canterbury Architecture Awards.
The judges say Willard Street's “compassionate, human-centric design demonstrates how well-crafted architecture can elevate the lives of those in need, while also growing a community”.
Here's what the judges say in their citation:
The park-side setting has been embraced by carefully organising the 35 homes in clusters to let nature meander in and create viewpoints into the borrowed landscape.
Thresholds between homes are curated through a balance of solid and permeable screening, hiding the more private spaces, while maintaining community connection elsewhere.
This innovative response packs in Homestar 7 certification, collaborative integration of traditional Māori values, edible gardens, high thermal efficiency and a cohesive palette of robust and low- maintenance materials.
Setting the standard of economic social housing, this compassionate, human-centric design demonstrates how well-crafted architecture can elevate the lives of those in need, while also growing a community.
ŌCHT general manager property Ed Leeson says South by Southeast designed another standard-setting community at Willard Street.
The Trust’s long-time creative partner consistently delivered on a shared vision to “build great homes that beat the high standards you'd expect in any other modern residential development”.
"With each new design and new community, we show what great design can achieve for community housing.”
South by Southeast’s design was realised by a team including Quion, Planz, Consortium Construction and Rangzen Pro.
Judge convenor Maria Chen, of Athfield Architects, says the winners demonstrated their ability to think beyond conventional boundaries, from navigating tight budgets, to accommodating intricate and demanding programming, to crafting a space.
“This year’s entries exemplify a remarkable blend of diversity, quality and bold design; a colourful tapestry of creativity and innovation within the industry,” Chen says.
“They reflect the architects’ commitment to crafting enduring buildings, enriching our communities and serving as catalysts for positive change."
Willard Street is also a finalist in the Property Council of New Zealand 2024 Property Industry Awards.
Previous awards for ŌCHT developments include:
Brougham Street (Korimako, Karoro and Hoiho lanes): Civic Trust Award (Category A) 2022; Canterbury Architecture Award (Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Award) 2022, Property Council of New Zealand Property Industry Excellence Award 2022, New Zealand Commercial Project Awards (Residential) (Silver) 2023.
Glovers Road: New Zealand Commercial Project Awards (Residential) (Gold), and the Innovation Award 2023.
Tiwaiwaka Lane: New Zealand Commercial Project Awards Silver Award (Residential) 2021.