Winners of the NZIA Awards 2023 will be announced on Thursday 16 November.
These are the shortlisted entries in the Heritage category.

"Maurice & I" is a feature-length documentary celebrating Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney’s hugely influential architectural partnership, and their legacy that was all but lost in the devastating Christchurch earthquakes.

There are four weeks left to donate to this wonderful venture. Please consider supporting.

https://boosted.org.nz/projects/maurice-and-i

Our thanks to the jury members of the Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects Awards for visiting Dorset Street Flats this morning, as part of their thirteen day tour of all 61 projects shortlisted for the 2023 New Zealand Architecture Awards. Young Architects.

THE DORSET STREET FLATS (1956-1957) DESIGNED BY SIR MILES WARREN - SHORTLISTED IN THE HERITAGE CATEGORY AFTER A MARATHON EFFORT BY @YOUNGARCHITECTSNZ TO REPAIR AND REVITALISE THIS HERITAGE-LISTED BUILDING.
THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN HONOUR OUR PAST AND ENSURE THE BUILDING REMAINS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND JOY FOR FUTURE OCCUPANTS.

Congratulations to Young Architects for taking the "Heritage Colour Maestro Award" at last night's Resene Total Colour Awards 2023.
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The judges said: "This is a very respectful treatment in revival, a fitting toast to the significance of the architect and his contribution to New Zealand. The work shows restraint and careful consideration of how to authentically refresh a piece of history. The palette honours the intention of the post-modern architecture achieving the patina of the past with the technology of today.”

This project is finished in Resene Alabaster, Resene Baltic Sea, Resene Colonial White, Resene Concrete, Resene Corn, Resene Cuban Tan, Resene Red Oxide, Resene Sea Fog, Resene Siam and Resene Silver Sand.

​Our thanks to Resene for the recognition.

​Congratulations to Young Architects for receiving a Highly Commended Award for Residential Alterations & Additions for Dorset Street Flats at last night’s Canterbury Region ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards. Thank you to Architectural Designers New Zealand for the recognition.

Many thanks to Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects for recognising the long hard work involved in bringing this architectural icon back to life. And congratulations to Young Architects for the well deserved nomination.

Huge interest in auction of Sir Miles Warren Mid-century flat

A highly sought-after Mid-century flat in a Christchurch block designed by the late Sir Miles Warren has sold under the hammer for $635,000.

The tiny Historic Place Category 1-listed flat in the Dorset Street Flats attracted 31 bids, with two final bidders battling it out to the end.

The flats are a leading example of the “Christchurch School of post-war architecture” and rarely come on the market. The listing noted the flats marked “the emergence of a new kind of residential living in New Zealand, that is, a small-scale group of purpose-designed, modern, modest-sized one-bedroom city flats for minimal living”.

The restoration was designed by Young Architects, and completed after two-and-a-half years of construction. The flats have their own website, and Craig Garlick, the owner of the flat that was occupied by Sir Miles himself says he is thrilled at the positive outcome: “It's been a long slog, frustrating at times, but totally worth it to achieve such a great result. These buildings are such an important part of our national story in terms of design and architecture, and even in the way urban people chose to live.”

Katharine Burrell of First National, who held the listing with James Abell of First National Progressive, said the restoration was designed to preserve all the original character. For example, the kitchen still features open shelving with sliding doors and cut-out finger pulls. The original painted concrete block walls remain, plus a wall of timber shelving with a built-in writing desk. Other interior walls feature board-formed concrete.

“A lot of thought went into the design back in 1956, and it’s so relevant for today,” Burrell said. “I gather Sir Miles was really thrilled when he found the land for this project, because it has a wide street frontage, so all the flats, which are slightly elevated, face the street. The original stables behind have been rebuilt as garaging, and there are communal laundry facilities.”

The agent said it was difficult to price the one-bedroom 50m² flat because the value went “way beyond the bricks and mortar”.

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Colleen Hawkes, The Press, 29 June 2023