Chow:hill Blog

Chow:Hill is pleased to announce the appointment of Phillip Kempster to the position of Principal. Since joining the company in 1996, Phillip has consistently demonstrated high-quality design thinking, a commitment to successful project delivery, along with effective team leadership, and support of our company's collaborative design culture.

As a Senior Architectural Technician, Phillip brings strong technical proficiency to any project. His passion for design and technical quality is evident in both this project work and studio leadership. Recent projects have included Gisborne District Council Admin Centre, Te Ara O Mauao at Toi Ohomai. 

Phillip is currently leading the delivery of multiple buildings as part of the Waikeria Prison Development. Recognised for a collaborative and client-focused approach Phillip inspires a high standard of delivery across the whole project team. As the Architecture Team Leader in the Hamilton studio, Phillip is also a positive mentor for our technical team, promoting a culture of quality studio-wide. 

If you would like to chat with Phillip about your project aspirations, head to Our People page and give him a call.

At the end of October the Property Council and its members gathered to celebrate; recognising excellence in leadership and innovation in the Waikato property industry along with outstanding contributions to the industry and economy.

Jane Hill, Director at Chow:Hill Architects was recipient of the Women in Property Award category. A cause for much celebration by the Chow:Hill team. 

"Congratulations to all finalists and winners at the recent We Are Waikato Property People Awards. A great evening to celebrate the talent and excellence in our region, Chow:Hill are especially proud to have Jane Hill recognised for her leadership in the industry," Brian Rastrick, Director. 

Jane joined Chow:Hill Architects in 2003 having graduated from Auckland University as top of her year with first class honors. She started work in Chow:Hill's Auckland studio, before practicing for three years in London, returning to Chow Hill's Hamilton studio in 2010.

In 2016 Jane became Chow:Hill's youngest and first female company Director. Since her appointment to this active governance role, Jane has continued to focus on fostering both creative excellence and inclusivity across Chow:Hill studios. 

She has taken a particular interest in the company's workplace culture and knowledge development across a number of key sectors. In particular the growth of Chow:Hill's reputation and expertise in the delivery of award-winning tertiary learning environments. Jane's passion for education extends beyond the built environment, her design and leadership of Chow:Hill's continuing professional development program over the last 5 years sees her taking a hands-on approach and active role in enhancing the capability and skills of the studios and helping the team to excel at what they do. 

Jane is respected and admired by her team, in particular, her strong work ethic and the value she places on design quality, diversity of discussion and intentional collaboration. She thrives on creating an authentic team approach within her projects - spanning across the internal team, consultants and client groups. She views this approach as essential to design quality, excellence and overall project success for our clients. 

Jane's passion, design skill and commitment to the education property sector has been recognised via a number of industry awards received for projects including Wintec's Engineering and Trades Training Facility; and most recently Toi Ohomai's new Te Ara o Mauao facility in Tauranga. This project has been awarded an Excellence Award at the 2017 Property Council Awards and a Silver at this year’s Commercial Construction Awards Event. With all project accolades ensuring that the whole team receives due recognition is a top priority for Jane.

The 2018 National Contemporary Art Awards exhibition at the Waikato Museum is a must-see. The awards night was held at the beginning of August and the finalists’ works are on display until the end of October. Free entry.

This year’s entries have stepped it up, with impressive pieces that speak to a wide plethora of contemporary themes, utilising different materials in order to convey their message. The 2018 judge, Reuben Friend, Director of Pātaka Art + Museum, selected this year’s finalists from over 300 entries.

The winning entry, entitled You and Me, The Weight of History, is the work of Rotorua artist Sarah Ziessen. At first glance, this work is a couple of tailored coats hanging on the wall. A closer look reveals that they are not coats at all, or certainly not created from fabric, instead sculpted from paint skins. The two forms sitting side by side on the wall of the main gallery, were the result of late musings, "I was thinking about race and culture and how we define ourselves because, at the end of the day, we're all just flesh and bone." – Sarah Ziessen, 2018 National Contemporary Art Awards, Supreme Winner.

“Thank you to everyone involved in putting on the exhibition. It is a huge honour to be in included in such a highly regarded exhibition, and even more so to win the award. I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved and especially to the sponsors: Their generous support makes the National Contemporary Art Award the most prestigious contemporary art award in the country and allows many artists the opportunity to have their work recognised. 

For me, winning the award will be a life changer as I have just become a full-time artist…this award gives me considerable space and resources to pursue my ideas…I am especially excited to be able to continue my work with paint skins…and see where it takes me.” – Ziessen. 

Ziessen, received $20,000 from Tompkins Wake and Chow:Hill. Chow:Hill has a vested interest in supporting the arts, both locally and nationally, as the support of these initiatives uplifts the culture and enhances the communities we live in.

Chow:Hill Architects were once again the proud sponsors of the Design Industry Breakfast at the 20th annual Spark International Festival of Music, Media Arts & Design. 

Facilitated by Alan Deare of Area Design, Hamilton design industry professionals and students mingled over brunch while hearing from four inspiring creative directors, two of which had previously graduated from Wintec, the host of the Festival. 

Ant Donovan from Frost*Collective shared the story of one of his clients, OzHarvest. and the good they are doing rescuing food and nourishing our communities. Donovan explained the re-branding process that Frost*Collective worked through with OzHarvest and how it has contributed to the social enterprise's success. Check out their kiwi counterpart KiwiHarvest 

Paper Stone Scissors creative director, Emily Woollett, discussed and showed us the branding work they do for sleepwear giant, Peter Alexander. 

Wintec Alumni Jeff Burch from Conde Nast spoke on working in the magazine and publishing world in New York, including the recent rebrand of Vanity Fair. 

To conclude we heard from Ryan Delaney, also a Wintec Alumni who is Creative Director and Founder of Overdose.Digital., a digital media agency, who have offices across the globe and work with some of the world's biggest brands from Fonterra, through to Air China. 

The inspiration-filled morning was topped off with delicious food and great coffee made in-house at Mavis Made to Order located on the ground floor of Wintec House.

Photography Credit: Desmond Nielsen

Chow:Hill is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam Thomas to the position of Associate. Since joining the company in 2013, Sam has consistently demonstrated high-quality design thinking and project delivery, along with effective team leadership, and support of our company’s wider strategic vision.

With a passion for creating designs for our clients that are innovative, functional, and sustainable, Sam is committed to successful outcomes for each client, bespoke to their needs. Sam has a collaborative approach through all stages of the design process, with the belief that this is a key component of all successful projects.

Over the last decade, Sam has developed experience across commercial, health, education, public and residential sectors, thus offering a depth and breadth of perspectives from which to approach each project. Domiciled in our Hamilton studio, Sam is agile in his design delivery, working with clients all across the country. Recent project successes include Curious Cubs Early Childcare Centre, Hamilton; Gisborne District Council Administration and H.B. Williams Memorial Library; Massey University Student Accommodation refurbishments, Palmerston North, along with various projects with Wintec and Unitec.

Sam has extensive expertise in high-quality design communication including 3d rendering, animation, and virtual reality. These skills provide added value to projects, enhancing both communication and stakeholder engagement at all stages of the design process. 

If you would like to chat with Sam about your project aspirations, he is contactable by giving him a call or email. 

  

Corinne Lee and Alison Tsoi from our Auckland studio recently participated in a 1-week build project in Fiji organised by Habitat for Humanity.

Corinne and Alison were joined by 12 other young working professionals from the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, as part of a pilot programme (Habitat Young Leaders Build) aimed at growing young leaders in the field of humanitarian aid. The team worked so well with each other that the build was completed a whole day ahead of schedule!

The build involved completing a 'transitional shelter' for a local Fijian woman, Elesi, and her daughter. Living in exceptionally difficult circumstances both physically and mentally, Elesi hopes her new home will be the start of her regaining independence and confidence in supporting both her family and herself.

Rudimentary tools and materials were used throughout the build (these were what were available, donated and accessible to the site). Through stellar teamwork and sheer perseverance in tricky environmental conditions, a steel-clad, timber-framed 6m x 4m pod was erected over 4 days. A key feature of these transitional shelters is the many cyclone ties that make them resilient to cyclones regularly threatening damage to the villages in Fiji.  Update: Cyclone Josie that swept through the country just 2 weeks later (claiming 4 lives and destroying much property). The house remains intact and was able to shelter Elesi and her family safely during the cyclone.

Even though the transitional shelter is simple, this is the beginning of Elesi's future. This process was an excellent example of how authentic spaces can be made by taking the time to genuinely get to know the client, listen to their stories, and celebrate with them in their successes.

This build was heavily covered by the local news, featuring on prime time news on FBC (Fiji BC) and in the local papers (the Fiji Times and Fiji Sun).

Should you be interested in going on a humanitarian build, or have any questions at all, contact either Corinne or Alison.    

(contact details found under ‘Our People’)    

At the end of 2017 Chow:Hill Hamilton invited three year 8 students from Horsham Downs School, Yanni, Braden and Daniel, along with Steve Dunsmore, Principal, to visit our Hamilton studio and see the inner workings of an architecture studio. 

The students were given a tour of the studio and an opportunity to see the progress of the concepts that Chow:Hill has been developing for Horsham Downs School. These students were invited to visit as they had drawn up a Computer Aided Design (CAD) of their own, using Google Sketch-Up, of an outdoor learning space between Rooms 12 and 13 which impressed our team. 

During their visit, these future designers were given a challenge: to design a tower that would put Hamilton on the map! Using popsicle sticks, tape, blue tack and material samples the students created a model of their ideas in just 30 minutes! The designs that resulted were full of innovation and creativity. 

The team here thoroughly enjoyed having Yanni, Braden and Daniel visit our office. Chow:Hill is currently developing their ideas to bring an innovative solution to reality for the Horsham Downs School in 2018.

Jane Hill is a prominent architect within the Waikato and Bay of Plenty community.

Since graduating at the top of her class at Auckland University School of Architecture in 2002 she has won several industry awards for projects including Wintec’s Engineering and Trades Training Facility and, most recently, Toi Ohomai’s new Te Ara o Mauao facility.

But Jane’s talent and success as an architect is only part of the story. She also has a strong and genuine commitment to foster diversity within the industry. This was recognised at the August 2017 Architecture+Women’s A+W•NZ Dulux Awards, where Jane had the honour of being nominated for the prestigious Munro Diversity Award.

In her role as one of the Directors of Chow:Hill, Jane places high value on diversity of discussion, intentional collaboration, and an authentic team approach. This, she believes, is how truly successful projects and innovative design outcomes are achieved.

Jane has long championed inclusivity at Chow:Hill. As a result of her influence, six cultures are now represented across the 60-strong multidisciplinary practice. Half of the company is made up by women, including 40% of the Senior Management team; Jane is one of two women on the Board of eight. This level of gender diversity is one of the highest in the architecture industry.

Jane’s prominent support for diversity is having a significant positive impact on young people in the industry. In her recommendation for Jane’s nomination for the Munro Diversity award, architectural graduate Corinne Lee emphasised how Jane’s approach offers both opportunity and inspiration:

“I’m a cultural minority in what I now call my home country,” said Corinne, “and it can be difficult – particularly within our industry – not to let discrimination keep me from thriving and being my best. Jane has a commitment to value the individual, and what they can offer, over cultural or gender stereotypes. She also serves as a voice to actively promote diversity. Thanks to her and others like her there is now a level playing-field for success to be accessible by all.”    

Time to get out the Champagne and celebrate 25 years of Chow:Hill. Founded in 1992 by Chien Chow and Richard Hill, Chow:Hill has grown from a small company in the Waikato to a team of 60, located in Hamilton, Auckland and Christchurch.

The Chow:Hill team collaborated on a broad range of inspiring projects across New Zealand and Internationally. With our ever growing staff and focus on personal development, we pride ourselves on ensuring future success and continued authenticity passed on by our founders. 

“When Chien and I started planning Chow:Hill for the long term; succession planning and a major investment in training were considered to be key to our sustainability. We have also established some amazing long term and enduring relationships which I'm sure will help us go forward from here,” Richard Hill, former Director and Founder.

An intimate birthday celebration was held at Madam Woo in Hamilton, the evening filled with good memories and some great stories shared with long standing clients and consultants. 

Auckland Studio celebrated with a client and staff event at the Auckland Art Gallery, highlighting the work Chow:Hill has done to support art restoration at the Gallery.

“The evening was a great opportunity to pause, reflect and celebrate with those who have been a key part of Chow:Hill’s successes and design journey over the last 25 years” Jane Hill, Director

Here’s to the next 25!

Chow:Hill had the privilege of attending and being platinum sponsors of this year’s Westpac Waikato Business awards, held at Claudelands Events Centre. The annual awards are the apex of the business year, an opportunity to celebrate the successes of our businesses in the region.

Chow:Hill was proud to support Breast Cancer Awareness month this October. Our Newmarket Studio was “pinked out” in Pink For a Day on Friday 27th October to fundraise for the Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand. 

Landscape Architects from Chow:Hill’s Auckland studio attend 2017 NZILA’s Small Urban Conference.

Earlier this year, Landscape Architects Grace He and Sarah Peddie from our Newmarket studio attended the 2017 NZILA's Conference held in Wellington. The theme of this year's conference was 'Small Urban', and over the two days this topic was explored through a series of talks from New Zealand and overseas speakers, and through field trips around Wellington.

The conference examined how we design our urban spaces and how to do so in a way that makes them quality places in which to live. It covered the broad themes of Social, Advocating, Moving and Wild Urban, as different people shared their approaches and experiences of design and projects in the urban environment.

A couple of speakers in particular stood out for challenging the way we design places and respond to design challenges in cities.

Lisa Diedrich, a Professor of Landscape Architecture from Sweden, questioned the often unrealised but very present binary distinctions in design, such as the separation of urban and rural. By rethinking urban design, including questioning who the driver is in creating spaces in cities, new relevant and exciting outcomes occur. She cited inspiring examples of communities engaging with, and mixing up the usual sequence of a project where typically place is followed by project then plan, and in doing so creating more interesting spaces.

Another inspiring speaker was Marco Casagrande, a Finnish Architect. He looks at the way we see built and unbuilt form and the distinction between them. His provocative works challenge the boundaries of building and landscape, which leads to fascinating new forms. His designs are an extraordinary blend of building and landscape, which are both livable and living; organic buildings intertwined with plants. His unique way of seeing the design of cities opens the door to a more experimental and dynamic approach to designing and living in spaces.

Overall, the conference explored the decisions Landscape Architects can make during the course of a project. By engaging with the process and being willing to make perhaps smaller changes, we can open things up for debate that have the potential to lead to larger outcomes. A 'small urban' way of thinking is less of a focus on the outcome, and more of an active way of designing. It provides an alternative path to that of globalisation and uniformity. It means that while we stay connected to the global, we find unique design solutions that are relevant to a place, and so leading to the creation of more unique projects relevant to their particular context.

For our Auckland, and New Zealand context , we take this as an encouragement and a challenge to explore within our own projects the opportunity for flexible and adaptable processes, to avoid the over-planned and to accept the accidental, to think of small, provocative but engaging and bespoke interventions.

For further information please contact grace.he@chowhill.co.nz

Grace is a Senior Landscape Architect in our Chow:Hill Newmarket Studio.

Published on Architecture Now and in the latest edition of Architecture NZ, Jane Hill recently wrote a thought-provoking reflection on the challenges of Learning Environment design with regard to the impact of disruptive technologies and catering to the new generation of students/emerging workforce:

"Changes in society and the job market are forcing tertiary education providers to reassess the way they provide education. Jane Hill from Chow:Hill Architects and Te Ari Prendergast from TOA Architects investigate how architects can equip today's learners for an ongoing climate of change.

A friend recently asked which tertiary organisations I might recommend for their child who was approaching the end of high school and trying to figure out 'what to do next'. Reflecting on my answer, I realised that this question is now more challenging for today's learners than ever before... Read more"

If you would like to find out more about the contents of the article, please contact Jane Hill - jane.hill@chowhill.co.nz

Jane, a Chow:Hill Director and Registered Architect, has a keen professional and personal interest in designing dynamic, sustainable and student-centric learning environments across New Zealand.

2017 National Contemporary Art Award sponsored by Chow:Hill.

For the 18th year, The Waikato Museum brought the award to Hamilton, and hosted this year's Judge, Elizabeth Caldwell, Director of City Gallery Wellington.

Pared down from 236 entries to 50 finalists, the National Contemporary Art Award was announced at a warm celebratory evening on 28th July in Hamilton.

The $20,000 prize went to Kim Pieter's abstract painting titled, The Meaning of Ethics, which some have likened to the work of Cy Twombly. "Subtle workings with the colour mauve were involved, but it was the large empty spaces daringly left around the central abstract forms that provided the artwork with a certain authority and power." (Peter Dornauf).

At Chow:Hill, we see architecture as a form of public art - it sits at the fulcrum point where a client's private interests and motivations are balanced with the public effects on the built environment. This balancing is achieved through clever creative design.

Like art, architecture is not merely a response to rules of compliance and budgets, but an emotional experience. One cannot differentiate between art and architecture when 'experiencing' the Pantheon in Rome. Chow:Hill recognises the close relationship between art and architecture, and the creative approach to both. We appreciate the cultural legacy as each can contribute for the common good.

Along with Tomkins Wake, Chow:Hill's sponsorship of the NCAA is now in its third year. Philanthropic by nature, sponsorship is something the team at Chow:Hill considers carefully from year to year. Recently, we have sponsored arts-related events and projects such as the restoration of Hodgkins' Child in a Pram at the Auckland Museum. This signals both our commitment to the local community as well as the arts, to which our Chow:Hill design disciplines closely align. Above all, our sponsorship approach is founded on a company vision that values innovation, authenticity and inspiration.

You can read more about the NCAA on the Waikato Museum website.

For more information, contact Brian Squair brian.squair@chowhill.co.nz

Brian is a Director at Chow:Hill's Hamilton Studio

Attwood Apartments reach completion. The Attwood Apartments are the latest in a number of quality retirement apartment developments, undertaken in partnership with Oceania at Lady Allum.

Chow:Hill has been involved with Oceania Healthcare in the development of Lady Allum Retirement Village over the past fifteen years. Lady Allum Village is located in Milford on a rolling site with pleasant suburban views to the North and Northwest.

Attwood Apartments is a four-level development consisting of forty-four spacious two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus study apartments, with basement car parking. The common facilities comprise of a dining and common lounge, and a theatre, with quality finishes being a feature. The lounge opens out to a sunny Northwest-facing, fully landscaped area. The whole development has been carefully nestled into the landscape with accessible connections to the rest of the village.

To learn more about this project please contact Malcolm Sharpe malcolm.sharpe@chowhill.co.nz

Malcolm has been a Project Architect at Chow:Hill's Auckland Studio for fifteen-plus years.

Chow:Hill is a committed sponsor of the New Zealand initiative, Million Metres Streams (MMS), who are striving to restore and protect the health of our inland waterways. The Sustainable Business Network and Enspiral are key supporters of this scheme, and so MMS is the “result of discussions with people, businesses and organisations across the country who have committed to work together to accelerate the riparian restoration activity in NZ by injecting a new stream of resource." - MMS.

At Chow:Hill we value transparency. We acknowledge that we are involved in creating CO2 emissions; however, we are contributing back to our community and environment by donating $1370 to MMS for our carbon offset for October 2016 to March 2017. With Studios in Auckland and Hamilton, we wanted to support MMS by giving towards the projects, Restoring Rosebank Peninsula (Auckland) and Te Onetea Stream Extension Project (Waikato).

The Restoring Rosebank Peninsula project is being run by the Whau River Catchment Trust, and are aiming to save the coastal fringe of Rosebank Peninsula. The Whau Local Board, the Rosebank Business Association and many volunteers and businesses have also jumped on board of this mission. The project involves removing the weeds that have taken over the coastal fringe of the peninsula, with the Trust also proposing a long-term restoration project involving replanting native bush along the coastal edge. Their hope is that the restoration will provide a habitat for native species to return to the area over the coming years.

The Te Onetea Stream Extension Project is associated with the Waikato River Catchment. Te Onetea Stream connects the Waikato River to Lake Waikare, so this project is concerned with restoring Lake Waikare to its original condition. They will focus on removing pest plants and planting nine different varieties of native plants and trees suitable for this particular area. There is enough room for the planting of 2,134 native plants and trees.

For further information please contact Maurice Kiely - maurice.kiely@chowhill.co.nz

Image by Camus Wyatt

Chow:Hill's 'MasterChef' design skills were recently put to the test at our annual Interstudio Day.

Auckland and Hamilton Studios collaborated, competed and created in teams at the Seafood School in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter. The final two-course meal produced by the groups formed the lunches for the day - a challenge of eatability for some and culinary art for others that kept everyone on their toes. A fantastic way of extending our skills in collaboration in a different setting and medium!

Moving a couple of steps down the road from the Seafood School, we were then hosted by the ASB Waterfront Theatre to continue our day. This inspiring venue provided the setting for the day's interactive workshop session exploring and discussing Chow:Hill's new company vision statement...

"We are innovative designers recognised for shaping authentic places and inspiring people."

The objective of the afternoon's brainstorming was to collectively define what this vision means to us as creative individuals and as a company. The session provided some new insights, a deeper understanding of purpose and a few good laughs, with the discussions regarding the translation of our vision into our day-to-day activity, continuing across the Studios.

A night of celebration at the 2017 Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards on Friday 16th June and a fantastic result for the Te Ara o Mauao, Toi Ohomai Project Team. The new 3,500m2 innovative, modern learning facility achieving an Excellence Award in the category of Education.

Its success in a competitive field of fourteen impressive facilities recognises the collective team's dedication to the project vision and their commitment to creative collaboration throughout the design and construction.

Chow:Hill would like to thank the Toi Ohomai Client group for their leadership and the opportunity to work with them on this truly inspiring transformation project and to the Consultant and Construction Team including Greenstone Group, BECA, BCD, Marshall Day and Marra Construction for their skill, hard work and enthusiasm throughout the process.

Congratulations!

New boutique Planet Espresso café opens at Auckland City Hospital in March. Designed by Interior Designer, Amy Land for clients, Anna and Rob McGregor who have owned a successful espresso bar operating at Auckland City Hospital for thirteen years, it developed from the opportunity to move to an adjacent tenancy.

The new tenancy space informed the layout of the plan, with several key requirements from our clients - to increase capacity for serving more customers while maintaining the functionality of the original café design and overall to create a boutique espresso bar to go with the specialty coffee on offer.

Amy utilised the width of the space, presenting the front face of the café to customers, taking advantage of the majority of traffic approaching from the direction of the Hospital main entrance. This layout provides greater space for overflow of customers waiting and reducing congestion in the adjacent thoroughfare. Functionally, the counter design follows the same formula as its predecessor, a system staff are familiar with, allowing for an additional point of sale and coffee machine.

There were many considerations to designing a hospitality project within a hospital setting. Materiality was a really important tool to utilise in projecting the 'boutique' café atmosphere. It would have to simultaneously position itself as aesthetically different from the Hospital environment while remaining practical and meeting the requirements of other stakeholder, Auckland District Health Board's various panels, ensuring that physically, visually and cognitively impaired users would be able to successfully navigate the space. It was important for ADHB that the workflow and feel of the Hospital public areas were to be maintained and with a need for the space to feel light, bright and welcoming.

The selection of a minimal palette of quality materials helped to keep the interior design as clean and visually uncluttered as possible while creating impact and a high-end aesthetic. This was achieved through the use of marble-look porcelain, copper detailing, warm timber-look vinyl plank flooring, oak joinery and tropical wallpaper.

The outcome of this project is to contribute meaningfully to the development of the Hospital environment as a people-centred place. 

For further information please contact amy.land@chowhill.co.nz

Amy is an Interior Designer in our Chow:Hill Newmarket Studio and is passionate about creating spaces for people

Chow:Hill was proud to be Platinum Sponsor for long term client South Canterbury District Health Board as they celebrated their first South Canterbury Health Awards Gala, held in Timaru on the 13th of May.

Chow:Hill Director Anner Chong and Associate Lynda Zgierski-Boreyko were delighted to join the festivities and to present the evening's Integration Award, a recognition of results achieved when two teams, organisations or groups work collaboratively to improve health systems or health outcomes, an approach closely aligned with Chow:Hill's own design culture.

The night's highlights included the presentation of the Chairperson's Award, recognising the long service of Margaret Brown, a 93-year-old hospital volunteer, demonstrating the sense of community and support present in the hospital team. A further highlight was guest speaker, Sir Ray Avery's entertaining and inspiring presentation on 'all things kiwi'; an insight into the science behind medicine.

Our team experienced a great night sharing in the success of the SCDHB with fellow sponsors. Our involvement was much appreciated by our Client team -

"I just wanted to extend my absolute thank you for your contributions to the Gala Awards on Saturday night. We really appreciate both your sponsorship of the event, and your time to not only attend the event, but to present an award to the deserving winners of each category. Each of your presentations contributed to the overall success of the evening."

If you would like to know more about the Awards, please contact Anner Chong at anner.chong@chowhill.co.nz

Anner and Lynda are both part of Chow:Hill's Health Team, which has been involved with the community in Timaru for almost a decade.

Nine of Chow:Hill's Architectural Graduates are working towards professional registration with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board in 2017-2018. A challenging and significant undertaking assisted by the support and mentoring of Registered Architect and Auckland Studio Architecture Team Leader, Tammy Ashley. Chow:Hill's in-house Graduate Development programme has been in place since mid-2015 and is always evolving to suit each graduate's requirements and development.

The goal of the program is to expose our graduates to as much experience and many opportunities as possible through both project work and focused Studio discussions, these discussions facilitated through a weekly study group led by graduate Edith Chan and supervised by Tammy. The study sessions are framed around the 6 key experience areas in which registration applicants must show competence, this includes design and construction activity, practice conduct and office management, ethics and health and safety. This experience is then demonstrated via comprehensive project case studies prepared and submitted by the applicants as part of the registration process.

Given that the best type of learning is often in practice our Team Leaders are focused on offering a range of project types, scale and activities to our Graduates as part of resource and project planning. Graduates are also invited and encouraged to attend various technical presentations and CPD events, with a number of the Team attending and inspired by the recent NZIA in:situ conference.

In this significant stage of career development our graduates are also encouraged to share their design thinking and ideas, this includes regular presentation opportunities at Studio Forums; a chance to share a particular design concept, reference project or source of inspiration. In the Architecture Team meetings, Tammy has installed the tradition of the "Rolling Chair", in which each graduate take on the responsibility of chairing the meeting. The challenge of chairing a group of architects and designers provides a good training/testing ground for their wider project context.

Chow:Hill acknowledges and commends all the hard work and collaboration of our graduate team as they work toward their registration goal and are looking forward to celebrating their imminent successes!

Firstly, Anner Chong has been appointed to the position of Company Director. Anner brings a wealth of experience in design and planning in both Community Housing and Health projects. Her knowledge of our business and leadership skill have been supplemented by working with the Board over the last two years gaining broader understanding and insight into the Governance role.

Announced also is the appointment of Chris Thom to the position of Principal.

Experienced in Healthcare Architecture projects across Asia and throughout New Zealand, Chris has been successfully leading the Chow:Hill Health Architecture team on such projects as Christchurch Acute Services and Timaru Hospital Master Planning.

Chow:Hill also announced the appointment of Lynda Zgierski-Boreyko to the position of Associate.

Project Administration and Documentation Coordination for the Christchurch Hospital ASB project has kept Lynda busy over the last few years. Domiciled in the Christchurch project office, she is now carries responsibilities for the hospital delivery on site.

Brian Squair, Chow:Hill Board Chair, said "We are thrilled to announce these new appointments. Anner, Chris and Lynda have each demonstrated commitment to our Company and modelled our collaborative approach of listening to our clients, designing for our clients and succeeding together - the essence of Chow:Hill."

Chow:Hill is delighted to celebrate with Meagan Wrinch and Sam Thomas from our Hamilton Studio their achievement in successfully becoming NZRAB Registered Architects. This followed three and half years of hard work, study and preparation, culminating in official recognition and confirmation of their expertise and professional abilities in Architecture.

Meagan Wrinch

Meagan has been with the Chow:Hill Team since 2013 following completion of her studies at Unitec. During this time, she has developed a broad range of experience from education to mixed commercial projects, refurbishments and fit-outs. Meagan enjoys working with clients to help shape both the design vision and functional potential of their projects. Meagan is passionate about architecture and delivering designs that are well thought out, flexible and adaptable for future growth.

Sam Thomas

Sam has over 8 years in the Architecture industry working in New Zealand and Australia. Joining Chow:Hill in 2013, Sam has worked on a range of projects using his skillset in concept design, design development, technical detailing, client communication and consultant coordination. Sam consistently explores new methodologies and technologies to improve the design quality and visual presentation of our studio projects.

We are proud to have Meagan and Sam in our team and to support them in their ongoing professional careers.

In February this year a group of Chow:Hill staff attended the NZIA 'Insitu' Conference held at Auckland's ANZ Viaduct Event Centre.

Registered Architect, Meagan Wrinch was in attendance and found there was a common theme over the range of presenters:

• Consideration of light direction of impact on a space

• Majority of speakers' work looked at history of the site as a starting point

• Both Alison Brooks and Barbara Bestor insist on the concept of "beauty" Another idea that came from Alison Brooks, Creative Director of Alison Brooks Architects, was "ideals rather than ideas" and the importance of authenticity, generosity, civilness and beauty.

Registered Architect Sam Thomas expressed interest in the following speakers' thoughts:

• Barbara Bestor - The use of artists and photographers to provide more tools in the expression of a space. This is often done with cost effective methods such as custom wallpaper

• John Wardle - Large scale elegant designs that often delve into the history of the site or institution. Wardle said that looking into the history of a site can bring something special to the project that will add to both the architect's and client's experience of it.

• Todd Saunders - the importance of an elegant and casual workflow with lots of model making and form experimentation

Sam also noted that overall there was a big push towards things being "crafted", crafted designs, crafted materiality and crafted workflow. This was an appealing idea, as it can add a huge amount of tactility to the end project.

The Chow:Hill Team recently shared in the celebrations as Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology opened Te Ara o Mauao, their new student-centric, multi-purpose interdisciplinary learning space at the Windermere Campus.

More than 100 invited guests were welcomed to the opening by Dr. Leon Fourie, Toi Ohomai Chief Executive and Anthony Robertson, Corporate Services Director. Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor, John Cronin, carried out the official unveiling. The new building provides Toi Ohomai with 3,500m2 of modern learning space across Art & Design, Music & Radio and other disciplines for approximately 700 students.

The concept of a collaborative urban laneway has underpinned the design of both interior spaces and building form with modern learning and social environments connected and blended across a central three story internal atrium or 'Learning Laneway' (Nga Ara).

Central to the design is the concept of flexibility and variety. Te Ara o Mauao represents significant change for Toi Ohomai, moving the Windermere Campus away from siloed (prefab) classrooms towards modern project based learning environments. This dynamic facility acts as a transitional stepping-stone, promoting wider transformation in learning and delivery across other faculties and the organisation as a whole.

Te Ara o Mauao reaches beyond the campus inspiring a vision of modern tertiary learning across the wider Bay of Plenty Community, through its vibrant, active and welcoming spaces and collaborative partnerships. The building's name actively communicates this ambition by association with the legend of Mauao (Mt Maunganui). The building is a metaphor for 'being caught in the light of learning', growing in mana through knowledge, and developing a deeper understanding for your own benefit and the benefit of others.

*Photos 1 & 2 by Richard Robinson; photos 3-5 by Mark Hamilton

On January 16th the new Curious Cubs Childcare located on Tristram Street was opened.

This project is the second centre for Curious Cubs, offering much needed childcare in the Hamilton CBD. The project is an Adaptive Re-use of an existing warehouse building, offering space for 80 children aged from three months to five years.

Project Architect Sam Thomas had the task of upgrading the existing building and creating a facility that accentuated the natural resources that Curious Cubs prides itself on providing to its young learners.

The success of the project was due to a collaboration between the landlord of Waikato Federated Farmers, Curious Cubs founder Jenny Potter, and the Design Team. We are very proud to have been involved in the project, and wish Jenny and her team all the best moving forward with the new centre.

Chow:Hill Director Jane Hill recently attended a series of Tertiary focussed conferences as part of Chow:Hill’s research and knowledge development in the sector. These included the Campus Development Conference in Sydney and New Generation Learning Space Conference held in Auckland. 

Running as part of Learning Innovation Week, Sydney’s Campus Development Conference brought together an extensive range of speakers and included presentations from Murdoch and Curtin University in Western Australia, SUTD in Singapore and SIAD Business School at the University of Oxford. 

Reflecting on two days of rich discussion, Jane identified the following common themes as the key takeaways from the conference: 

 • Reinventing the Campus – The growth of ubiquitous digital information, global competition from emerging markets and value driven student demand is driving campus reinvention across multiple organisations. 

 • Creating Places for People – Instilling a sense of place and human scale was a common starting point. Campuses that have suffered from piecemeal and reactive expansion over time are now seeking to establish a living breathing campus ecosystem built around concepts of physical and digital connectivity. The campus is reimaged as a place where people build the knowledge, networks and relationships that will inform their future. 

 • Doing More with Less – A first principles approach to campus sustainability was also a central message, putting green walls aside and understanding the true cost of campus infrastructure. As reinforced by Mick Serena, Strategic Asset Advisor from DCWC, we need to try harder to build less. Using existing resources creatively, maximising shared spaces and repurposing external areas to create more efficient total learning environments. Taking the time to understand the primary pedagogical objectives before seeking answers in new GFA. 

 A number of these themes re-emerged in conversations shared at the New Generation Learning Space Conference recently held in Auckland. At this event the focus was closer to home with presenters including AUT, Unitec and Massey University. 

The smaller scale of this event enabled more informal discussion, debate and sharing of ideas between delegates. Jane’s key insights from these sessions included the following: 

 • Transferability – The acquiring of transferable or cross disciplinary skills is become increasingly critical for today’s learner with increasing uncertainty regarding what a career may mean 5-10-20 years from now. 

 • Blur and Blend – Given the necessity for cross-disciplinary learning the days of silos are numbered for organisation who wish to stay relevant and competitive. Initiatives and incentives to blur the boundaries between Faculties and Departments, Formal and Informal Spaces, Learning and Working were the hot topics for discussion and urgent action. 

 • To Flip or Not to Flip – Equally topical is the debate around the flipped classroom and the role of the academic as ‘sage on the stage’ or ‘guide by the side’. While views on the extent of this delivery mode across academic programs appear split, there is clear agreement on the primary objective – equipping a self-determined and resilient learner for the age of disruption. 

 So what does this mean for the work that we do and the environments we create for our clients? 

Inspired by the commitment to innovation and change expressed by many of the presenters Jane believes the main message is to begin with people. 

 The terms ‘modern learning environments’, ‘disruptive technology’ and’ innovation’ all mean different things to different organisations and teams. A central part of project briefing and concept development is building a shared understanding of a tertiary organisation’s culture; what are the key attributes of their campus; of their staff and students? Where do they see their future as a learning provider, locally and globally? What are the unique challenges and opportunities for your campus and your students now… and 20 years from now?

 Investing the time to carefully explore these questions with key project stakeholders before we start towards the answer- Physical, virtual or otherwise. 

 For further information or to simply share a few ideas on the topics above, please contact jane.hill@chowhill.co.nz

Chow:Hill has donated towards an upcoming exhibition entitled, Freedom and Structure: Cubism and New Zealand Art 1930-1960, through our relationship with the Auckland Art Gallery and their sponsorship programme. The exhibition is about the impact of Cubism on the work of John Weeks, Louise Henderson and Colin McCahon, and will be touring around 4 venues in New Zealand during 2017 and 2018. Chow:Hill's donation is going towards the Auckland Art Gallery's publication of an important book that will accompany this exhibition.

"The exhibition will demonstrate how Weeks, Henderson and McCahon's adoption of Cubist pictorial strategies proved an important forerunner to abstraction in New Zealand, marked the transmission of more avant-garde attitudes to art and occurred at a period of transition to anti-naturalistic and non-figurative styles in painting."

Chow:Hill has been involved with the Auckland Art Gallery for the past year, working closely with Sue Sinclair, the Head of Advancement & Sponsorship. We also had the pleasure of hosting a client function in the stunning Mackelvie Gallery, where Sue Sinclair and Zara Stanhope (Principal Curator and Head of Programmes) spoke to us about the exhibition Space to Dream: Recent Art from South America, which was running at the time. We look forward to seeing the Cubism and New Zealand Art exhibition play out, and encourage you to get along when it opens in 2017 to see what will be an impressive range of New Zealand artwork.

Dressed to impress, the Chow:Hill team were out to enjoy the evening and were honoured to present the award for Marketing to the Hobbiton Movie Set. We extend warm congratulations to the Hobbiton Movie Set who took out the Business Excellence, Marketing and the inaugural Peoples Choice awards for the evening. It was a great night celebrating the broad range of business successes in the Waikato, and provided great exposure for our brand.

Chow:Hill was proud to be a part of this year's National Contemporary Art Awards held at the Waikato Museum.

Director Brian Squair:

Once again, it is our great pleasure to be associated with the National Contemporary Art Award and Exhibition. In supporting this Award we signal a strong advocacy for artistic expression and excellence, the Waikato Museum and the great city of Hamilton. The business of Chow:Hill is design and delivery of projects that not only serve a functional purpose, but also enrich the lives of those who experience the environments we design. We sense therefore, a strong accord with the realm of art and design, and we congratulate all the NCAA artists contributing to this event and wish them well in their work and creative expression.

Waikato Museum Director Cherie Meecham says the National Contemporary Art Award proves the creative genius of artists is ceaseless.

"This exhibition of 34 finalists' works proves art has the ability to say things we may not be able to put into words, and in its 17th year, this art award is stronger than ever. We are excited to share an outstanding exhibition this year."

The exhibition is open until Sunday 4 December 2016 at Waikato Museum. The winner of the 2016 National Contemporary Art Award, Sorawit Songsataya, for his work titled 'Good Kisser' received $20,000 from the major sponsors, Chow:Hill and Tompkins Wake.

A bright new facility for the people of Greerton, Tauranga.

The opening of the new Greerton Library is a major milestone for the Greerton community, as the new facility replaces the existing, in operation since 1974. The existing building was well overdue for an upgrade - it was an inwards-looking building that didn't engage with the community and was rapidly losing relevance in the growing and more diverse population.

The new library recognises the role of libraries as community knowledge hubs and offers fantastic new opportunities for the whole of Tauranga. Costing $3.65m to build, it doubles the size of its predecessor and is now home to an additional 10,000 books, 16 computers, iPads, free internet and increased space for the public to read and study. In addition to the general library space, new community facilities such as a digital training room and a community meeting room accessible for after hours use have been added.

During the design process, our project team worked collaboratively with the library staff, action groups, cultural groups, and other stakeholders to refine the detailed brief and develop the design. Project construction took eight months to complete, and with the public opening ceremony being held in mid-2016.

A key challenge for both Chow:Hill's Architecture & Landscape Architecture teams was integration of the building into the adjacent Greerton Village Green. A key focus in the broader context of the design was placed on activating the existing Green as it was an under-utilised and unwelcoming space. This has been achieved by relocating the entry point to the library so it now opens onto the Green. The design solution incorporated extensive full height glazing, allowing the public to passively engage with the library. From outside, and vice versa. This has been very successful with the Green being revitalised and activated following the library opening.

Congratulations to Chow:Hill Project Architect Sam Thomas and the team in both Hamilton and Auckland on our collaborative efforts to help see this project through the various design stages to completion.

If you would like further information please contact Sam Thomas (sam.thomas@chowhill.co.nz)

Recently, Chow:Hill's Auckland and Hamilton studios got together at the Avantidrome in Cambridge for a day of team-building. It was a great day that involved something quite special...

...Team Elevate, a company that specialises in 'higher-purpose' team building events, were our facilitators for the day, guided us through a series of fun team challenges. What most of the Chow:Hill team did not know, was that our final challenge - to build a bicycle - was going to involve Fostering Kids.

As we were admiring our finished bikes, in came a group of foster children with their carers. The delight on their faces as they received these Avanti bikes was unforgettable. The kids were filled with joy and gratitude, as for many of them, it was the first time they had received a gift, something new they could call their own.

With such a rewarding end to the day our team left on a high and more aware of the great work that is being done by some very generous kiwi families.

"Good design is as little design as possible."

Chow:Hill were the proud sponsors of the 2016 Design Industry Breakfast at the Spark International Festival of Music, Media Arts & Design.

Three designers from the graphics, brand and media industries spoke about their work and the concept of 'the simple idea as king', an idea that can be easily communicated, understood and owned by a client.

The quote of the morning, "good design is as little design as possible", came from Christopher Doyle who emphasised that sometimes designers can over complicate the whole design process, when the solution is often sitting right in front of them.

Doyle's idea also happens to be one of the 10 Principles of Good Design by German Designer Dieter Rams. Doyle spoke alongside Shabnam Shiwan (creative director at Osborne Shiwan), and Neil Pardington (designer at Base Two and photographer). The presentations and discussion were insightful, and connections were forged over early morning coffee at Mavis Made to Order, located on the ground floor of Wintec House. The session was facilitated by Alan Deare of Area Design, Hamilton.

#Spark16 is an international design festival held by the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) in the heart of Hamilton that is "an annual celebration of contemporary arts, media, music and design bringing together creative minds from NZ and around the globe."

Chow:Hill has been working with the Airedale Property Trust for some years now. In years gone by, we have sponsored other participants involved in their annual Lifewise Big Sleepout in support of homeless people. More than 100 people in Auckland's city centre are sleeping in rough conditions, and thousands more of vulnerable people are living in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation.

This year, Stuart Mackie, one of Chow:Hill's directors, thought that he should get more involved. On the night of the 7 July, he joined over 150 other hardy souls to sleep out on a piece of cardboard in Auckland.

It was a memorable night for those who took part, not only because of the thunder and lightening, but also due to the supporting discussion about homelessness from Lifewise and the Auckland City Mission.

Every dollar that was raised is being directly applied to Lifewise's unique "no band aids" approach to homelessness. The Lifewise response continues to be the most successful answer to the issue of homelessness.

To find out more about how you can support Lifewise, please visit this link

Chow:Hill has been a proud sponsor of the New Zealand project, Million Metres Streams. MMS is helping committed kiwis raise the money they need to get large-scale tree planting happening along our country's waterways through crowd-funding.

The drive behind MMS is to improve water quality, reduce erosion and create habitats for both plants and aquatic animals. Their ambition is the restoration of one million metres of New Zealand's riparian waterways, through the planting of trees along stream bank.

As a team of designers, and specifically including a team of landscape architects, the project fits perfectly with our company values and ethos. We are happy to support a world first initiative and hope it encourages more New Zealanders to get involved.

We would like to draw your attention to a particular project in Tomarata, just north of Auckland. The Taylor family has 6 days left to crowd-fund the final $3000 they need to plant a kilometre of stream this winter.

Let's work together to clean up our rivers - take a look at their project and consider contributing to a metre of stream planting this week.

http://millionmetres.org.nz

The Board of Directors of Chow:Hill take this opportunity to share some more exciting news with you.

We have a new logo!

The refresh of our logo involved considerable time, consideration of several options, opinions and ideas and some healthy discussions. It was all worthwhile as we are extremely delighted with the end result. The new logo gives Chow:Hill a modern, defined, fresh and inspiring perspective.

Our logo is the only change to our identity, all else remains unaltered. Our collaborative approach of listening to our clients, designing for our clients and succeeding together remains the essence of Chow:Hill. The values of Chow:Hill are closely represented by our new logo. These values are passion, creativity, agility and integrity.

You may have already seen our new logo in one of many places: new signage at both our Auckland and Hamilton studios; updated website, printed material including our drawings.

We are thrilled with this new phase of our journey and look forward to sharing it with you.

Thank you for your on-going support,

The Board of Directors Chow:Hill Architects Ltd.

Jane has been based in our Hamilton Studio for the past six years, where she has developed a number of key relationships within the Tertiary Learning sector. In her research, study and working with clients in tertiary projects she continues to grow a body of knowledge and understanding for that area of our business. Within the  company Jane leads Chow:Hill's professional development programme, planning and coordinating learning  opportunities that address client-centric, operational and technical development needs.

Brian has been based in our Hamilton Studio for the past ten years, where he continues to grow client relationships and project opportunities in the Commercial Development sectors. From among a body of commercial clients, this work has led Brian to become the New Zealand design representative for a number of European-brand motor vehicle dealerships. Equally, he has gained significant experience in working with Territorial Authorities in the design and development of their own facilities and other community buildings.

On March 14, Chow:Hill successfully hosted the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) event for the first time.

Around 40 women attended, including the main speaker for the night, Dame DC Cordova, who was visiting New Zealand from the United States. Cordova explored the topic Women, Cash & Divine Matters, a talk which was found to be extremely motivating and educational, not to mention that she had the audience in bouts of laughter throughout.

It was a fun night of networking, learning and sharing of experiences from a diverse and authentic group of women from all over the construction industry, such as designers, engineers, and lawyers.

Chow:Hill would like to thank everyone who was involved for their support and work towards the event - watch this space, there will be more to come!

www.nawic.org.nz

In February, Chow:Hill Director Stuart Mackie, was lucky enough to win second prize in the recent Art in a Day competition, which was all about capturing the essence of Parnell, Newmarket and Grafton. This was sponsored by TSB Bank, Waitemata Local Board, Madman, Parnell Trust, Newmarket Business Association, Grafton Residents Association and Parnell Community Committee Inc. Thank you to these organisations.

This year, art had to be created on the spot over a period of 9 hours, before being returned, framed and ready to hang for judging. Although not quite reality television, the short timescale did create a sense of urgency! 

There were 10 locations that could be depicted through artwork and after some thought and scouting around, Stuart selected Lumsden Green in Newmarket because of the mix of space, buildings, activity and sculpture at this location. It is also right next to Chow:Hill's Auckland studio, which is coincidently in the background of Stuart's picture.

Newmarket is a bustling place, and from where Stuart drew, many of the people passing by were interested in what he was up to and stopped to chat. Particular thanks go to the two passing backpackers from Denmark who gave Stuart some sun cream, something he had overlooked in favour of paper and paint.

Looking back, it would be great if this event could be even bigger, allowing more people to appreciate this part of Auckland. Imagine if Newmarket, Grafton and Parnell were habitually drawn, painted and sketched by people who in themselves, became part of the scenery.

www.artinaday.org.nz

Our 2014-2015 Company Sustainability Report is now live on our website. This report aims to broadly and simply describe, evaluate & explain the impacts, both positive and negative, of our activities while also identifying our future performance targets.

The document contains a range of content including commentary, news, stories, facts and figures. The stories are particularly important as they illustrate our engagement with our clients and other stakeholders.

There's also a range of results in our various performance areas from the very good to the 'must do better', and that's what CSR is about - being transparent, honest and seeking ways to improve in all areas of our business. Our report lists targets for the current year against which our 2015-2016 performance will be measured.

Our 'top-line' results are:

• All environmental performance areas have improved.

• Our CO2 Footprint has reduced.

• Our economic performance significantly enhanced.

• Our engagement with clients and other stakeholders continues to strengthen.

• Our ability to influence clients and enhance environmental outcomes within projects needs to be strengthened significantly.

To view the full report select 'About Us' on our website or follow the link www.chowhill.co.nz/sustainability

If you would like to know more and discuss the structure or content of our report, please contact maurice.kiely@chowhill.co.nz

Maurice is a Director at Chow:Hill and leads our sustainability initiatives and production of our Report.

On January 28th the new Ebbett Audi and Ebbett Volkswagen dealership officially opened, with a glamorous black-tie event hosted by Sir Graham Henry. 

The dealership has been described as an eye-catching landmark, located at the northern edge of Hamilton East. Both Audi and Volkswagen brands have strong corporate identities which set their products apart; focusing particularly on the customer experience, vehicle display, showroom material and finishes selections, including their architectural form. The challenge was to bring these two identities together while maintaining a cohesive architectural relationship for the overall development that suited the existing site.

The dealership is comprised of two eight-car showrooms, shared workshop and parts facility each designed to specific corporate identity guidelines. The showrooms have been positioned on the street front to give a high street retail experience. Chow:Hill's design team developed a scheme that puts focus on the public realm and architecture of the showrooms, where the transparency offers activation and interest - rather than simply putting focus on the cars alone. Connecting the two showrooms together is Cafe Osten, which has its own identity as a stylish, high-end cafe that complements and reflects the soft landscape elements in its interior.

Many plaudits to Brian Rastrick who worked closely with the Ebbett Group, the vehicle importers European Motor Distributors and the corporate identity (CI) architects from each brand to develop the scheme from a bulk and location study to a developed design concept to the finished product it is today.

Sarah Peddie, a graduate landscape architect in our Auckland studio, recently attended the 2015 NZILA conference, The Spirit of Landscape: Te Mauri O Te Whenua. Coming away from the conference, Sarah felt inspired by the range of projects in which Landscape Architects are currently involved. It also made her think more deeply about how decisions that are made in the course of a project can effect the wider environment and community in positive ways.

The conference involved looking at cultural, tourism, productive and habitat landscapes, from different perspectives. It was held in Rotorua for a couple of days and there were a mix of speakers from around NZ and overseas, as well as field trips around Rotorua.

Going to a conference provides the chance to learn about current issues in Landscape Architecture and see the range of projects in which people are involved. After going to the conference, Sarah felt that most of the speakers and field trips have added to projects she has been working on since.

One of the sponsors of the conference, Kauri Park nursery, provided a few helicopter trips over a floating wetland and a highlight was the flight over the areas we had walked earlier in a field trip. It was a complete change of perspective, seeing the wetland and lakeside from the land and then from the sky. What you can see from the air and what you see at eye level is very different, and quickly you can see the broader landscape connections.

Overall, the conference related to a bigger question which is becoming more pressing, how to balance peoples' requirements of the land in a way that doesn't destroy our environment. Landscape Architects potentially have the skills and ability to help deal with this challenge.

For further information please contact sarah.peddie@chowhill.co.nz

Sarah is a Graduate Landscape Architect at Chow:Hill and is passionate about sustainable design and creating spaces that balance the needs of people and the evironment.

Post earthquake Christchurch is still a strange and disorientating city. New buildings are emerging, but it is an odd and utterly unique landscape to negotiate your way through.

In the past few years, several community led design groups have sprung up in Christchurch, combining engagement with community and the environment. In the year following the earthquakes, one of our graduate landscape architects, Sarah Peddie, was involved with one of these charitable organisations, 'Greening the Rubble', to create three small spaces around a council run car park in the central city.

The aim was to create three spaces that were pleasant to be in and walk by; appealing to the senses by including materials with interesting textures and flowering plants. This was to counter the bleak and empty surroundings. A minimal palette of materials and plants were used to create three distinct places that helped to orientate people in the post earthquake city where many landmarks have gone.

The design was based around positive colours and forms, and involved working with donated materials. Urban Paving donated gabion seats and hard materials, including gravel and limestone chip. Plants were donated from around Canterbury, with a mix of native and exotic plants. Crack'd for Christchurch made beautifully intricate mosaic arrows from broken china.

Sarah found working with volunteers and on a project in the central city, an interested project. The opportunity to work on a project from design, right through to construction and planting, was an experience that has proved invaluable. The gardens were there until earlier this year. Last time Sarah was in Christchurch, the new bus station was built and it was good to also see the Justice and Emergency Services precinct being constructed on the temporary bus exchange site.

In Auckland there are organisations doing similar things, bringing people together to create spaces that make cities better places in which to live and work. In Auckland a community garden on a vacant lot in Symonds Street has recently appeared. This is a site that may be needed for transport in the next few years, but in the meantime a temporary productive garden has been set up. It is exciting to see the large possibilities and opportunities to engage with the community and with the environment, that are created through thinking small and temporary.

For further information please contact sarah.peddie@chowhill.co.nz

Sarah is a Graduate Landscape Architect at Chow:Hill and is passionate about sustainable design and creating spaces that balance the needs of people and the environment.

Te Ari Prendergast, a Graduate Architect at Chow:Hill's Auckland studio, recently presented a unique project at the AASA Conference in Christchurch; work originally developed for the GRAPHISOFT student competition. In Te Ari's architectural thesis, he looked at the precedent of the Maori Carving School as a way to capture youth disenfranchised after the Christchurch earthquakes, to provide a pathway to tell their stories, and recreate a sense of identity. The design is inspired by the original swamp landscape and follows the pathway of 'Welcome' in Maori culture. We are very proud of Te Ari's skill and thought processes, and are delighted to share some images of his work with you.

Chow:Hill is a sponsor of Child Matters' annual event Buddy Day, and last Friday we were pleased to be part of this day for a third year in a row. 

The purpose of the Buddy Day initiative is to help raise awareness and start a national conversation on how to do better for our kids, and create environments in which they can flourish. Child Matters sent thousands of life-size cardboard 'Buddies' made by primary school kids, into various communities for the day. At Chow:Hill we had fifteen buddies join us in the office, and accompanied us on our lunches, errands, and some employees event took them home for the weekend. We believe Buddy Day makes a tangible and positive difference to the lives of kids in New Zealand. 

If you would like to find out more about Child Matters and what they are doing for kids in your communities, visit www.childmatters.org.nz

Chow:Hill celebrates 20 years of business in Auckland. Our Broadway themed party was a great focus for the anniversary of our establishment here, and also marked our recent relocation to Newmarket's hub. Clients and colleagues were greeted across the 'red carpet' and the nighttime atmosphere with live jazz and appropriately designed theatre lighting was a fitting setting for a great evening. At Chow:Hill we believe our success lies in the success of our clients and their stakeholders through the projects in which we are involved and the relationships we build with you. We would like to extend our gratitude to those of who joined us, and for playing a big part in our company's growth and reputation over the past twenty years. This night would not have been a success without your presence.

Tour of successful medium density housing developments in North America points to viable solutions for Auckland. Maurice Kiely joined a party of researchers, developers, and professionals from the public and private sector in a recent study tour to Vancouver, Seattle and Portland to study successful medium density housing developments in both suburban and inner city settings across more than forty residential developments. The aim was to develop a better understanding of ways to increase density in existing neighbourhoods, opportunities for bringing revitalisation and densification, innovative social housing developments - providing social housing alongside mixed use and mixed tenure developments - and insights into funding options to encourage more housing, better communities, and better outcomes.

The lessons for Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand is that density does matter; however, it's not how dense the city is, but how you make it dense. And in this it's the balance between public open space and private realms and their quality, transportation (walking, cycling, public transport and private cars), employment, choice and diversity about how and where to live is critical. For this to happen Policies, Strategies, Design Guidelines and Design must be absolutely aligned and everyone needs a long-range vision. Effective and sustainable outcomes rely on collaboration and partnership between the city, commerce and the public is essential.

The neighbourhood is the key to a thriving and prosperous city, and the mix and balance of a neighbourhood needs to be carefully considered. Regeneration can be seeded through developments focused on specific groups and uses such as visual and performing arts, learning environments, community facilities or transport nodes - this will enhance creativity, employment, support other business, and community aspirations. There is no one solution to housing affordability, supply and the creation of vibrant neighbourhoods - we need to apply a creative approach within a number of different possible development models in bespoke situations. 

For further information please contact Maurice Kiely - mauirce.kiely@chowhill.co.nz

Maurice is a Director of Chow:Hill and has a focus on sustainable housing, neighbourhoods and communities.

Chow:Hill is delighted to announce that Brian Rastrick, one of our Principals in Hamilton, has been appointed as the Consultant Architect for European Motor Distributors New Zealand (EMD).

During the design of the Hamilton-based Ebbett Audi and Volkswagen dealership it became apparent that there was a knowledge gap between the Factory Architects and the local architects implementing the Corporate Identity (CI). Australia has a consultant-based architect that bridged the gap between the factory architects, local architects and vehicle importers; they assist with the build-ability, local material selections and final review before the final factory sign-off.

During the design of the Ebbett Audi and Volkswagen Showrooms (currently under construction) Brian and the client made reference site visits to six Australian dealerships. This experience gave a first hand review of the two automobile manufacturers' CI concepts; which subsequently assisted with the development of the Hamilton Audi and Volkswagen layouts and details.

In this role as the Consultant Architect for EMD, Brian will be conducting high-level reviews of all Audi and Volkswagen dealership projects across New Zealand and checking the designs for CI compliance. Both Audi and Volkswagen CI focus particularly on the customer experience; vehicle display; showroom material and finishes selections, including their Architectural form.

Brian also recently attended a three-day training course at the Audi Head office in Ingolstadt, Germany about the 'Audi Terminal' concept. Here the training focused on Audi CI and the combination of architecture, materials and furniture of which this comprises. Time was also spent with the head architect from Volkswagen in Wolfsburg where the finer details of the Volkswagen Module concept was reviewed through multiple dealership visits.

Since returning to New Zealand, concepts for the Continental Car Services Audi showroom redevelopment in Newmarket have been undertaken. The scheme comprises of a new 32-bay workshop with a two-level parking building above, as well as a full CI refurbishment of the showroom and customer areas, solving issues around customer flows and congestion onsite.

Audi Sport concepts for the RS and R8 models are currently being rolled out to six metro dealers. Brian’s role is to locate and document the concept within each dealership, which involves identifying the furniture, lighting and electrical elements.

Looking forward there is a number of existing dealerships in line for an upgrade along with Greenfield developments in the pipeline for new dealerships.

The featured image shows Chow:Hill's design for the proposed new Outpatients building and Emergency Department at Timaru Hospital. Along with this, Chow:Hill will also be working on the hospital’s main entrance, café, and Medical Day Stay unit.

Chris Thom, an Associate at Chow:Hill Architects, has been working closely with SCDHB chief executive officer, Nigel Trainor, and his team.

"We have undertaken intensive work to understand the likely future demands, the consequent models of care, and the likely pattern of movement within the hospital to develop a site master plan of 10 to 15 years", Trainor said.

The project is expected to cost between $7.5m to $9.5m and will be completed by 2018.

You can read more about this project at www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news

On August 1st, 2015 the community of Gisborne officially opened Oneroa Cycle and Walkway. Proceedings included a blessing, historic readings and an approximately 300 person hikoi telling the stories of Waikanae along this great, new community facility.

Oneroa loosely translates to 'long walk by the beach.' The Cycle Walkway project is closely linked with Gisborne District Council's Tairawhiti Navigations project.

During 2014 Chow:Hill was engaged by Frame Group Limited to work along side the Council to develop a 1km beachfront cycle and walkway from Waikanae to Midway Beach. Our team included Frame Group, Chow:Hill, 4 Sight Consulting (ex Andrew Stewart), Stormwater Solutions, Derek Lardelli and Council. The vision was to create a high quality, culturally significant, scenic walkway, which told stories of navigation and settlement.

Design elements respect the natural dune and coastal environment, and connect views to the coastline and Te Kuri a Paoa (Young Nicks Head). Key road termination points were used to highlight local cultural narratives through clever design detailing of concrete and timber treatments. Other design interventions include, upgrades of car parking and Grey Street stormwater network (2 new large rain gardens and spillway system), improved beach access and coastline accessibility, and installation of recycled, local hardwood, artwork/carvings street furniture.

The project was a collaborative project including a coastal scientist, ecologist, boardwalk engineer, landscape architects and renowned local artist and cultural advisor Derek Lardelli and lots of volunteers including Aborcare, Rotary, Certified Builders Assn. (local building firms) providing volunteer labour. Toihoukura students carved the large seats using recycled timber. The main Contractor was Earthwork Solutions with McLeods Concrete.

For more information:

http://www.gdc.govt.nz/oneroa-beachfront-cycle-and-walkway/

Or contact Bridgit Day

bridgit.day@chowhill.co.nz

T: +64 9 522 6489 M: +64 27 532 0312

Sponsored by Chow:Hill Architects, the National Contemporary Art Awards was recently held at the Waikato Museum. Judge Aaron Kreisler, had the difficult task of selecting one winner from a record number of entries.

Wellington artist Bronwyn Holloway-Smith's 'Pioneer City Flag', took home the top prize last week, receiving over $15,000 from sponsors, Chow:Hill Architects and law firm Tompkins Wake.

Holloway-Smith's flag design has no link to the recent flag referendum, but is rather the new official flag design for Mars.

Holloway-Smith also keeps a blog with a more in-depth look into the colonisation of Mars.

"There is sophistication to Bronwyn Holloway-Smith's Pioneer City project that is both vital and compelling. Launching the flag at the National Contemporary Art Award today is savvy and timely as NASA's New Horizons continues to chart the far reaches of our solar system, and closer to home, the national flag debate is starting to reach the pointy end of the process," said judge Aaron Krisler.

The exhibition is open daily until the 1st of November 2015.

In 2014, Chow:Hill worked alongside the Ebbett Group to develop a Master-plan for their multi-dealership operation within the CBD. The outcome of the Master-plan was to split the four on-site dealerships between two sites, which resulted in the Ebbett Group purchasing a greenfield site in Hamilton East for a new purpose built Audi and Volkswagen Dealership. Brian Rastrick worked closely with the Ebbett Group, the vehicle importers European Motor Distributors and the corporate identity (CI) architects from each brand to develop the scheme from a bulk & location study to a developed design concept from which Resource Consent was granted.

Chow:Hill lead a team of consultants throughout the design phases which faced and overcame budget, CI and programme challenges. The project was procured through a negotiated contractor tender with construction commencing in November 2014; completion of the project is programmed for October 2015. The dealership is comprised of two eight-car showrooms, shared workshop and parts facility each designed to specific corporate identity guidelines. The showrooms have been positioned on the street front to give a high street retail experience. Centred between the showrooms is a public café and plaza space.

For more information contact Brian Rastrick

brian.rastrick@chowhill.co.nz

T: +64 7 834 1677 M: +64 27 567 7902

The Canterbury earthquakes and the more recent Wellington earthquake have led to a professional rethink about how Architects and Engineers work together.

In response, local branches of the NZIA, IPENZ and ACENZ organized a collaborative event held on the 9th July in the new Wintec Engineering and Trade Training Facility.

The evening provided opportunity for both social catchup and to promote discussion regarding collaborative processes between the disciplines.

Facilitated by AECOM topics of collaboration were explored through a series of short case studies presented by Judith Makinson from TDG , Jane Hill from Chow:Hill and Jeff Matthews Holmes Consulting Group.

The aim to examine where collaboration is working well in the, what needs improving and how the industry can achieve better outcomes for our clients, our projects and our professions.

On the 25th June, Richard Hill, co-founder of Chow:Hill Architects, was awarded an honorary medal from the Waikato Institute of Technology.

Richard, along with Peter Stark of Montana Catering, David Fredericksen of Convex Plastics, and Maureen Speedy from the Waikato Family Centre, were awarded for their longstanding contribution to the Waikato region. Richard was celebrated for his contribution to complex building design and credited this to the Chow:Hill total design philosophy, saying, "It's our all-embracing total design philosophy that has ensured the company has remained agile and sustainable for the long term.

Richard co-founded Chow:Hill Architects 23 years ago with Chien Chow and has worked on a number of large scale Wintec projects, among others in the Waikato and wider regions.

"It is most gratifying to receive this award alongside leaders of innovative organisations and our Chow:Hill design teams will share with me the pleasure of seeing good architecture celebrated in our community."

Richard celebrated the evening with friends, family and fellow staff from Chow:Hill. The event was held at The Atrium, Wintec House, which was designed by Chow:Hill Architects.

Two for Two! WINTEC Engineering and Trades Training Facility wins two NZ Commercial Project Awards as well as two NZIA Waikato-BoP Local Architecture Awards. 

Last Friday evening the new Wintec Engineering and Trades Facility was awarded a Registered Master Builders Commercial Project Gold Award as well as winning the National Category for an Education Category. This follows the project's double success at the NZIA Local Awards last week. Another great result for the Wintec Facility and recognition of the whole Team's commitment to its success.

Both the design process and the future operation of the facility is underpinned by a new learning model developed by WINTEC in conjunction with Industry and the Project Team. This learning framework describes an integrated and dynamic process in which students actively discuss, engage, present and are 'hands-on' with their learning... a strong departure from a traditional chalk and talk lecturing style. The design of the facility has been inspired and informed by this new learning pedagogy, creating a vibrant, flexible and total learning environment for students and staff.

The new 5000m2 total learning environment caters for approximately 750 students across the vocational fields of Construction, Plumbing, Electrical, Automotive and Mechanical along with Electrical, Civil, Mechanical Engineering and Architectural Technology.

The facility provides a mix of formal studios, social breakout areas and practical learning workshops, allowing students to mix theoretical learning with hands on application. A key aspect of the project has been the design and construction of a facility that acts as a tool for learning and a showcase for engineering and construction skill. This has informed the expression of the structural systems and the attention paid to exposed services throughout the interior. In their project summary the NZIA judging panel stated that this 'bones out' aesthetic created a building that was not simply a place to go and learn but an integrated part of the learning experience.

Chow:Hill would like to acknowledge the enthusiasm and commitment of the whole project team to the success of the development. In particular our WINTEC Client team and our Consultant team, comprising Greenstone Group, AECOM Structural Civil, Innerscape - Building Services, Marshall Day - Acoustics, Greet Consulting - Data Security, PCD - Fire Design and Jewkes Boyd - Cost Management.

For further information please contact Jane Hill, Principal, Chow:Hill jane.hill@chowhill.co.nz

Or alternatively you can visit the following websites:

http://commercialprojectawards.co.nz/education-project-2015/

http://www.stuff.co.nz/avantidrome-wintec-win-regional-architecture-awards

This year was the 7th annual Blue Wallace Ambrose Golf Tournament. Chow:Hill sponsored a hole, which, along with the help from other local businesses and families, saw Horsham Downs School raise over $6,000. Chow:Hill is currently designing classrooms for the new multi-purpose/activity space for the school so was eager to get involved with their fundraising effort. With the combined support from everyone involved, the money raised will help contribute to IT equipment for the school.

Chow:Hill commits to regeneration of the Waikohu River Tributary project - Gisborne.

This is our fifth year of reporting through our Company Social Responsibility framework - the report illustrates the impacts our activities have on the environment, and in one particular indicator, our CO2 emissions. Previously we had participated in the Sustainable Business Network's Carbon4Good scheme for our carbon offsets.

The latest initiative, the SBN’s Million Metres Stream Project, enables us instead to offset our carbon footprint by contributing to the planting of a specific length of public or private waterways in New Zealand. In our case this is the Waikohu River Tributary project in Gisborne. For the six months just gone this will result in the planting of some 52 meters of river, and over a year a little over 100 metres. While over time we are working to reduce our CO2 emissions, the MMS project provides us the opportunity to maintain or increase our contributions if we wish.

The drive behind MMS is to improve water quality, reduce erosion and create habitats for both plants and aquatic animals. Their ambition is the restoration of one million metres of New Zealand’s riparian waterways.

As a team of designers, and specifically including a team of landscape architects, the project fits perfectly with our company values and ethos. We are happy to support a world first initiative and hope it encourages more New Zealanders to get involved.

Donations can be made on the MMS website at the following address http://millionmetres.org.nz/

For further information please contact Maurice Kiely - mauirce.kiely@chowhill.co.nz

Maurice is a Director of Chow:Hill and leads our company sustainability programme and CSR reporting.

Sam Thomas from our Hamilton office, along with his brother Eli, have planned an epic trip to Vietnam to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Chow:Hill are sponsoring this adventure that involves two brothers, two 50cc scooters and over 2500km of 3rd world roads.  The Plan: To take two 50cc scooters and travel the length of Vietnam. Over 2500km of potholes, break downs, mountain passes, monsoon rain, all in a country where they don't speak the language. The Dong Project: The Vietnamese currency is the Dong - which appealed to their sense of humour, considering they're doing this in aid of raising money and awareness of the most common men's cancer - prostate cancer. Your Support: This trip requires a massive amount of planning. They will be driving through harsh environments and possibly fighting for survival. The easiest and fastest way for you to help them is to donate financially, supplying them materials, spreading the news, giving names of interested sponsors or simply sharing some advice. 
Most importantly they need your help to get the word out. Tell everyone you know. The more people they have on board supporting them the closer they are to realising their dream. Everything they raise will be given to charity, but the more the better so please dig deep and help them raise an epic proportion for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. To donate or to follow their journey visit http://thedongproject.com/

Recently I had the privilege of attending the Annual Nga Aho - Maori Architecture and Design Professionals Network hui.  Our hui began with a warm traditional welcome to Te Pukenga Marae, a whare for students on the Massey campus in Palmerston North. Te Pukenga has a distinctive design with a rounded apex based on a local Whanganui whare and features artwork from the many successive years of students. The experiences to be had on these hui are as diverse as the disciplines and cultures that attend, often racing around to look at different buildings and historic sites significant to the local people. These excursions intermitantly broken up with great food provided by our hosts and more opportunity to catch up. Our first day was spent looking at sites within Whanganui as guided by local artists and designers. The UCOL Whanganui Campus was our first stop where we heard from Marty Vreede who gave us an inspiring talk about the importance of the printing press and the impact printed media had for Maori. We were then whisked away to the local Museum and a gallery exhibition displaying traditional gourd design both historic examples and modern interpretation. The architects in the group could not help but be captivated by the famous Whanganui War Memorial next door and a few grumbles that we didn't have time to explore further as we raced off again to the next location. A key part of these gatherings is to find opportunity to utilise the expertise within the group and to give back to the local community. This year the group was invited to provide design considerations for the iwi exhibit at the local gallery 'Te Manawa'. After a brain storming session and some rough sketches, groups presented ideas mainly about providing a welcoming entrance to the exhibit based on the procession of the Maori powhiri. Other ideas included ways to take the exhibit outside of the bounds of the gallery and extend out into the wider Palmerston North city centre. The opportunities for networking and sharing ideas are greatly beneficial between peers and to see the fresh ideas coming from students. Of note was a masters student presenting his thesis for a memorial on the historic Gate Pa in Tauranga that gives honour to those that fought and highlights key moments in our past. After these hui I always feel refreshed and energised having been around such creative and inspiring people, and full of new ideas to explore and share within the office.

For further information on this event or if you have any questions please contact Te Ari Prendergast teari.prendergast@chowhill.co.nz

Our latest Company Sustainability Report for 2014 is now live on our website. This report aims to broadly and simply describe, evaluate & explain the impacts, both positive and negative, of our activities while also identifying our future performance targets. 

Buddy Day 2014 was another huge success with even more supporters getting behind the cause than in previous years. Chow:Hill staff adopted a total of 12 buddies in our Auckland and Hamilton Studios. One of the biggest challenges surrounding child abuse is getting people to talk about it; Chow:Hill staff took their buddies out into the community to spark up converstations surrounding this issue. For more information on Buddy Day and how you can get involved next year visit their website http://buddyday.org.nz/

Anner Chong, a Principal at Chow:HIll, attended the Festival of Transitional Architecture in Christchurch on the 27th of October and cheered for the Unitec students that we sponsored. Although the students ran into a few hurdles along the way they overcame these and did an amazing job at representing a city that is forever changing. The event was a 'glowing' success. The installation will be at Unitec's Gradfest exhibition from the 27th of November to the 5th of December.

For further information on this event or if you have any questions please contact Anner Chong, Principal, Chow:Hill anner.chong@chowhill.co.nz

PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event aimed at raising awareness of the important role public open space plays in improving the quality of our lives. It also serves to generate critical debate around how public open space is created and allocated. 

For the second year in a row Chow:Hill have collaborated with professional colleagues, the NZILA Auckland Branch and UNITEC students to successfully transform metered parking spaces in Auckland into a temporary public place for Park[ing] Day. 

Students, fellow professionals, bloggers, business owners and the general public all actively engaged with the installation. Our blackboards were repeatedly populated with a number of doodles and the full gamut of responses to our question; 'Is Open Space in the City important?' 

Whether patrons sit within the positive majority or critical minority, our installations continue to provide opportunities for the public to interact with each other and engage in meaningful conversation. 

Reflecting on this years experience, there is no question that low cost installations driven by motivated individuals have the ability to generate a significant amount of interest and debate. We have learnt that tactical interventions provide us with valuable opportunities for social interaction and discussion on a personal level. We will continue to support initiatives that enable us to connect with each other. 

For further information please contact Leigh Wilson, Senior Designer, Chow:Hill - leigh.wilson@chowhill.co.nz

First construction stage begins for redevelopment of Christchurch Hospital. 

The first stage of the construction of Christchurch Hospital’s new Acute Services Building began this week, part of a $650m redevelopment of Christchurch and Burwoood Hospital sites. The project, a collaborative design effort between Chow:Hill, Warren and Mahoney, and Thinc Health under our ‘Katoa Health Design’ banner, is the largest and most complex to date in the history of Chow:Hill. 

The Acute Services Building’s 62,000m2 of new space incorporates new surgical theatres, intensive care unit, two six-level inpatient ward blocks, purpose-designed children’s facilities, rooftop helipad and support facilities and infrastructure. 

Located within the expansive landscape of Hagley Park, the new facilities, in particular patient bedrooms opportunity, feature innovative planning, outstanding views and natural light, all of which contribute to the healing process and well-being of patients. 

Chow:Hill is extremely pleased to have the lead design consultant role in such a significant project and to be contributing meaningfully to the redevelopment and sustainability of Christchurch. 

For further information please contact Darryl Carey, Project Director, Chow:Hill - darryl.carey@chowhill.co.nz

Chow:Hill are currently leading the investigation of options for the revitalisation of Dunedin’s tertiary streets in close collaboration with Dunedin City Council, Otago Polytechnic, University of Otago and Flow Transportation Specialists.

The project is focused on building community capacity and identity, improving the quality and provision of open space, and ensuring the tertiary streets become public places for people as well as accommodating vehicular traffic.

Our imminent improvement plan will effectively guide development for the streets within the tertiary precinct. It will also enable projects to be trialed and / or staged by the various institutions together or individually, as funding becomes available, and with confidence that the concepts have collective support.

This new learning environment provides practice and theory as a seamless approach to learning with problem solving opportunities similar to real life work environments. 

This has been a very exciting project to have been involved in and it is great to now see it in action. 

The new Wintec Engineering and Trades Facility commenced full operation for all staff and students this week.The start of Semester 2 2014 marks the end of a three and a half year design and construction process that began for the team in 2011.

To celebrate the completion of this project please see below a short video Wintec have produced on the new facility and its key aims for learning…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94f-_BxcypQ&feature=youtu.be

For further information please contact Jane Hill, Principal, Chow:Hill - jane.hill@chowhill.co.nz

My team and I are very pleased with our great new dealership. It has completely met my expectations, and surprised staff who were not involved in the project. When we agreed what the space suited in terms of a look and feel I had somewhat of an idea in my head, but got really excited when Brian presented the concept with images. I thought, wow, if the finished product is like this then we have achieved what we want to present, which is a friendly, high quality and original dealership. In terms of finished product, Brian achieved more than what I was expecting with some really special elements, such as the use of the reclaimed brick and Rimu and the black small window frames (apartment style).Customers have made positive comments from day one and we have also had people walk in from the street and comment on what a great dealership we have. One comment that we have heard a number of times is that it is a relaxed environment to be in. This is what we wanted to achieve as we set out to create a different environment from the norm' to do business in. Apart from the 'loft apartment' feel and look that we wanted Brian has also delivered a dealership where every space is utilised. The building has a small footprint so productive areas are important and that has been achieved. We are very proud of our dealership and Brian's concept and execution has achieved the look and feel we want. 

David Johnstone, Dealer Principal Johnstone Ebbett Holden Dealership, Wellington.

 

Stuart Mackie has been appointed a Director and Shareholder at Chow:Hill. Previously an Associate based in our Auckland Studio, Stuart has a broad range of skill across design disciplines and has played a major role in many successful projects, and particularly in the development and promotion of urban design within Chow:Hill. Stuart will join the Board of Directors, contributing to company governance whilst maintaining his project involvement.

 

Anner Chong has been appointed a Principal and Shareholder at Chow:Hill. Previously an Associate based in our Auckland Studio, Anner's career has been marked by her contribution to major healthcare projects across New Zealand, and other community-focused work here and overseas.

 

 

 

Jane Hill has been appointed a Principal and Shareholder at Chow:Hill, Previously an Associate based in our Hamilton Studio, Jane's career has developed through work in Auckland, Hamilton and London. Jane’s current focus is on the creation of new Tertiary Learning environments for clients across New Zealand.

 

 

Brian Rastrick has been appointed a Principal and Shareholder at Chow:Hill. Previously an Associate based in our Hamilton Studio, Brian has led a number of high-profile projects in learning and commercial and office working environments. Brian will continue to build on his successful client relationships in these areas.

 

The Art of Creating Memorable Places'. Simon Woodall and Stuart Mackie were recently invited to present a paper at the recent New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services Conference in Dunedin; the above title describes the theme of their presentation.

Places, like people, comprise of 'physical' and 'emotional' characteristics, and we use words to describe both. These characteristics are the ingredients of 'urban design' which is simply 'The Art of Creating Memorable Places'. The linked document is helpful in illustrating and understanding this concept.

CH NZCCSS Presentation PDF

CH Urban Design Matrix

If you would like to discuss the content of these, or require further information please don't hesitate to contact Simon or Stuart at simon.woodall@chowhill.co.nz or stuart.mackie@chowhill.co.nz respectively.

The first stage of WINTEC's new Engineering and Trades facility is now open and Semester 1 students are benefiting from their new learning environment.

The facility comprises some 5,000m2 of collaborative learning space for students and staff engaged in Engineering Study and Trades Training. When completed for Semester 2, 2014 the new environment will support and blend learning within the vocational fields of Construction, Plumbing, Electrical, Automotive and Mechanical Engineering with Diploma and Certificate level study in the areas of Electrical, Civil, Mechanical Engineering and Architectural Technology.

Jane Hill is an Associate in Chow:Hill's Hamilton studio and is a designer and researcher in the field of Tertiary Learning Environments.

We need to approach projects, places and people with an open mind. This is easier said than done, we all come with our education, our past experiences, our project deadlines and not to forget, our project budgets. Pre-research, planning and pre-developed methodology’s and approaches are all important as long as they don’t take over from what a place or community may be trying to tell us.

Chow:Hill Associate Bridgit Day and Senior Landscape Architect Leigh Wilson attended the recent New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) conference- 'The Rising Sun- Arriving, Settling & Place-Making in Tairawhiti.' It was two great days of field trips exploring Place-making in Tairawhiti -Gisborne. Tai (the coast)- ra (where the new sun)- whiti (shines).

Several questions were raised, one which has always resonated with me: 'What contributes to the making of memorable places which belong here and nowhere else?'

Place making- what do we mean by this? For me, in our profession of landscape architecture, it’s more than designing a place to be 'memorable', it's about the opportunity to experience a place and it's community(s) and to be part of a team facilitating expression of the hidden layers unique to that place and community. For me it is always about people and their relationship with the land, our responses to place. Place making is about the past but also the future, in creating opportunities, built or not built, for communities to continue to express themselves and their relationships with the land.

We will always have change. Sometimes change occurs so fast places of significance have been lost and people's relationship with the land broken. Cook's Landing, a National Historic Reserve, is a prime example of this. Through reclamation the original shoreline no longer exists. This site is also believed to be the landing place of the Horouta and Te Ikaroa-a-Rauru waka (canoes), which carried Māori settlers to the district around 1350AD.

A key challenge for us as designers is the facilitation and creation of places that are true to their site, context and communities. How do we maintain and strengthen our identity(s) in our ever-changing social and physical environments.

The range of projects, places and people that we engaged over the two days clearly reveal there is more than one response to place and place-making and that there is no 'right' response. The overriding contributors to the success of these projects were collaboration and relationships. Here are my impressions:

Day one we visited Orongo/Nick's Head Station and Rhythm and Vines, Waiohika.

http://www.nbwla.com/featured/nickshead.htm, http://www.rhythmandvines.co.nz

Both are extremely successful, supported by collaboration and strong relationships, yet both completely different. At Orongo/Nick's Head Station (Young Nick's Head - Te Kuri a Paoa) we explored the site with Thomas Waltz and Breck Gastinger of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects and Kim Dodgshun, Farm Manager. The project integrates agriculture, horticulture, ecology and cultural interpretation. Some of the design moves are so subtle many may not recognise them. Each of these subtle moves make a significant difference to how the site and its surrounds are experienced and understood. The qualities of this special place and the people connected to this place have been uncovered and celebrated while working with and supporting the functions of a working farm. The result is beautiful - a designed response.

Rhythm and Vines, another unique place, grew from a great idea, a lot of hard work and again collaboration and the bringing together of people to share the vision. It has resulted in a landscape, which has changed organically over time to cater for an event which started with around 2000 people and now caters for 20,000. Not only the music but also the place itself have made this a special event that people return; it has grown and changed and will continue to do so as the landscape will need to change to meet new challenges. The organic growth and change, the less designed and controlled, is what work's to create a unique experience for the people who come and stay over the festival period - an organic response.

Day two we visited Longbush Ecosanctuary and sites of the Tairawhiti Navigations Project. http://longbushreserve.org, http://www.gdc.govt.nz/tairawhiti-navigations-and-inner-harbour/

Longbush Ecosanctuary is a personal vision of Dame Anne Salmond and Jeremy Salmond, now shared and enlarged through a network of collaborators, Sarosh Mulla, Janine Te Reo Megan Wraight and Steve Sawyer to mention a few. One of the aspiring parts of this visit was listening to Sarosh Mulla describe The Welcome Shelter, not just the intriguing design, a series of structures to form an outdoor classroom but the evolution and continuing stories of a grass roots approach where Sarosh has bought together a significant number of sponsors and volunteers who together have made this project a reality- from a zero budget to an existing place. This is a non-traditional approach and at the same time a very old approach.

The Tairawhiti Navigations Project is an exciting and challenging opportunity to share past stories and commemorate a shared history through interventions in the city landscape. A wonderful part of this field trip was listening to the voices and watching the expressions of Richard Brooking and Joe Martin as they described past events from different cultural perspectives, hearing and visualising them as one shared history. Physical aspects of this history have long been removed; reclamation has removed coastlines, dredging and channel modifications have removed historic meeting places. A challenge for many of us is how do we represent these past stories in a manner that isn't 'tokenism' but is both authentic and engaging, encouraging debate and discussion leading to new stories and histories, thereby adding richness to our communities - a narrative, story telling approach.

2019 will mark the 250th anniversary of Cook's landing; watch this space.

Well done and congratulations to the organising committee, a great conference!

Bridgit Day is an Associate with Chow:Hill and leads the company Landscape Architecture and Urban Design Team

Once again Chow:Hill are delighted to sponsor the Hole in One Win a Car Competition at the Oceania Annual Charity Golf day. 

These are the two best shots from last year ……… the second shot only just missed. 

This year a hole in one at the 7th will win a Honda Civic Euro Mugen. 

Good Luck from Oceania, Chow:Hill and Honda Cars Newmarket.

"On behalf of Child Matters I would like to thank you most sincerely for your contribution to the success of Buddy Day 2013. With more than 1000 buddies adopted around the country this year, Buddy Day generated interest, awareness and conversations around the well being of children – exactly the goal we set out to achieve.

Your support of Buddy Day is hugely appreciated from your hosting of the champions evening function to helping us get café’s on board for the day. The Chow Hill team are always so welcoming when I come into your office and it is really valuable to be able to come in and work, when I’m in Auckland.

Thank you also for being a guest speaker at the Auckland breakfast and it was a great show of support seeing so many of your team attending  and being part of the day, please pass our thanks onto them.

We were particularly delighted this year with the success of our new locations, with around 400 people in Auckland  alone, being involved directly with the  event on the day, which is fantastic for a  first time

National and local publicity around the event proved very effective, with Buddy Day featuring in television news, radio, newspapers and online.. Thousands of people around the country participated in Buddy Day, including Prime Minister John Key, governor general Sir Jerry Mateparae, sporting heroes Eric Murray, Kerry Suter and Reuben Wiki, model Rachel Hunter, numerous politicians, business leaders and caring community members.

Our facebook page was buzzing  (and continues to do so) with photos of Carers and Buddies on various adventures. We have already been inundated with stories of how spreading the message around keeping children safe has touched people’s lives and encouraged others to speak out about their experiences – some for the first time. On Twitter,  #buddydaynz was the number one trend in New Zealand for a large part of the day.

Buddy Day was a definite success in terms of the conversations generated around child safety and the publicity we gained around this issue. Every single person who participated in Buddy Day has played a role in spreading the message that we all need to take responsibility for our children and the children in our community.

The launch of Buddy Day in Tauranga, Wellington and Central Auckland saw the message spread much further than Hamilton.  We are  hugely grateful to all of those who helped ensure the success of Buddy Day in these new areas.

As well as 1074 buddies out with carers in four locations (Hamilton, Wellington, central Auckland and Tauranga), an additional 500 buddies were part of workplace programmes with organisations such as  Midland Health, Sovereign, Footsteps,  Longveld, Convex and United Sweets.

Thank you again for getting behind Buddy Day and supporting NZ children.

Janine Evans

Buddy Day Manager / Sponsorship and Development at Child Matters.