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Ian Athfield

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Sir Ian Athfield
KNZM
Athfield in 2013
Born(1940-07-15)15 July 1940
Christchurch, New Zealand
Died16 January 2015(2015-01-16) (aged 74)
Wellington, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Auckland
OccupationArchitect
PracticeAthfield Architects

Sir Ian Charles Athfield KNZM (15 July 1940 – 16 January 2015) was a New Zealand architect. He was born in Christchurch and graduated from the University of Auckland in 1963 with a Diploma of Architecture. That same year he joined Structon Group Architects, and he became a partner in 1965. In 1968 he was a principal partner in setting up Athfield Architects with Ian Dickson and Graeme John Boucher. Athfield died in 2015 due to complications from a routine procedure which resulted in pneumonia, at the Wellington Hospital, where he was being treated for prostate cancer.[1]

Projects

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A documentary 'Architect Athfield' (1979), which examines the frustrations and achievements of one of New Zealand's most lively and innovative architects.

In 1965 Athfield started work on his first major project, Athfield House, for his family and a studio. Located in Khandallah, Wellington, this distinctive group of structures stands out amongst neighbouring conventional suburban houses. His early projects were constructed with a broad palette of materials including corrugated iron, plaster, stainless steel and fibre glass. As a reaction to much of the bland "Modern" architecture of the period, Athfield built in a deliberately vernacular style using features harking back to colonial buildings. His designs incorporated finials, steeply pitched roofs, timber weatherboards, verandahs and double hung windows. He was also inspired by the architecture of the Greek Islands with their exterior envelopes of continuous plaster and small windows. Conversely, he also much admired the buildings of Mies van der Rohe with their precise and refined detailing of industrial materials.

Yet another area of influence for Athfield was the geometric massing of the Japanese Metabolists. Athfield combined all these disparate elements into a highly eclectic and personal style. During the 1970s Athfield built and renovated numerous domestic houses and buildings, developing a distinctive and highly personal design approach based on the repetition of small scale elements and complex massing. Critical opposition to these 'cartoon houses' did not bother him. Another criticism of Athfield's houses were that they were built for charm and not practicality. Athfield believed, however, that "in a house, you should get a surprise every time you turn a corner and look up".

Wellington City Library

Athfield's practice expanded during the 1980s from mainly residential work to a wider variety of community and commercial buildings. As well as continuing to work on small-scale projects, his portfolio includes churches, pubs, council flats, stadiums and commercial high-rise buildings. Athfield's best known works include Telecom Towers, Civic Square and Wellington Central Library, Jade Stadium in Christchurch and work on the design of the Bangkok rapid transport system.

He was a President of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, judged many design competitions and was a keynote speaker at many overseas conferences. His firm's later projects included Chews Lane Precinct, the Wellington Overseas Passenger Terminal redevelopment and the Wellington Marine Education Centre.

A documentary on Athfield, Architect of Dreams, was produced for the NZ Documentary Festival.[2]

Following the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, Athfield was appointed as an Architectural Ambassador to Christchurch.[3] In 2012, architectural historian Julia Gatley published a book called Athfield Architects, about Athfield and his firm, following an exhibition she curated at the City Gallery Wellington.[4]

Awards and honours

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Athfield won over 60 national and international architecture and design awards. In 1976 he won first prize in the International Competition for the Urban Environment of Developing Countries. In 1978 he was placed first equal in a Low Cost Housing Design Competition in Fiji. He won 13 NZIA Supreme Awards for his outstanding architectural projects. In 2004 he won the New Zealand Institute of Architects' highest honour, the Gold Medal. Athfield was the first New Zealand architect to register as an APEC architect.

Athfield was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[5] In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to architecture,[6] and in the 2015 New Year Honours he was promoted to Knight Companion of the same order.[7]

He received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997 from the University of Auckland,[8] and in 2000 he was awarded an honorary LitD by Victoria University of Wellington.[9] Accepting his honorary doctorate on 18 April, Athfield stated:[10]

I accept this on behalf of architects, designers, plumbers and gas fitters. We have suffered at the hands of accountants and engineers for too long. (Ian Athfield, 2000)

Personal life

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Athfield married Clare Cookson in Kawakawa on 22 December 1962. They had two sons.[11] Clare, an interior designer, played an important role in many projects at Athfield Architects and her work was a significant reason for the firm's success.[11]

Notable works

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  • Athfield House, Wellington (begun 1968)[12]
  • Arlington Council Flats, Wellington (1970) (demolished 2021)[13][14]
  • Logan House (1974–75)[15]
  • Cox House, Wellington (1975)
  • Manila, Philippines housing project competition (1975–76)[15]
  • Porteous House (1979)[15]
  • Buck House, Te Mata Estate, Hawkes Bay (1980)[15]
  • First Church of Christ Science, Wellington (1982–83)[15]
  • Moore Wilson's facade, Wellington (1984)[16]
  • Logical CSI House, Wellington (1986–87)
  • 226 Oriental Parade, Wellington (1988)
  • Telecom on Manners Street, Wellington (1988)
  • Wellington City Library, Wellington (1991)
  • Civic Square, Wellington (1992)
  • Extensions to Student Union building, Victoria University of Wellington (1992)[17]
  • Palmerston North City Library extensions (1997)
  • Sam Neill House, Queenstown (1998)[15]
  • Rooftop additions to Te Puni Kōkiri House, Wellington (1998–99)
  • Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington (1999)[17]
  • Alan Duff House (2000)[15]
  • St Pauls Apartments, Wellington (2000)
  • Lancaster Park extensions, Christchurch (with Architectus, 2002)[18]
  • Odlins Building/NZX refurbishment, Wellington (2005)
  • TheNewDowse Museum, Lower Hutt, Wellington (2006)
  • Chews Lane Precinct, Wellington (2009)[19]
  • Taranaki Street Wharf, Wellington (begun 2006)[20]
  • Selwyn District Council offices, Canterbury (2007)[15]
  • Pipitea House, Wellington (2011; headquarters of the GCSB)
  • Wellington Marine Education Centre (proposed, denied by the Environment Court in 2007 on appeal; new location proposed)
  • 1–8 Clyde Quay Wharf (officially opened on Wednesday, 18 June 2014),[21] Wellington – formerly the Overseas Passenger Terminal
  • Tommy Millions pizza kiosk on Courtenay Place, Wellington[22]
  • Kate Sheppard Exchange, Wellington (proposed)[23]
  • 109 Featherston Street, Wellington (proposed)[24][25]
  • Arlington Council Flats, Wellington (demolished 2021)
    Arlington Council Flats, Wellington (demolished 2021)
  • Buck House, Te Mata Estate
    Buck House, Te Mata Estate
  • Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington
    Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington
  • Wellington City Library (now closed for reconstruction)
    Wellington City Library (now closed for reconstruction)
  • Civic Square, Wellington
    Civic Square, Wellington
  • Odlins Building/NZX, Wellington
    Odlins Building/NZX, Wellington
  • Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt
    Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt
  • Chews Lane precinct, Wellington
    Chews Lane precinct, Wellington

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bradwell, Simon; Hunt, Tom. "Sir Ian Athfield dies". Stuff. Retrieved 17 June 2015. Complications from a routine procedure at Wellington Hospital resulted in pneumonia. He was being treated for prostate cancer.
  2. ^ "Architect of Dreams (2008) | DOCNZ 2009 Documentary Film Festival". Documentary Film Festival 2009. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Architectural Ambassador appointed (1pm, 14 September 2010)". Ccc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  4. ^ Gatley, Julia (2012). Athfield Architects. Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-591-5. OCLC 795819749.
  5. ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 51. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  6. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 1996". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 1996. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  7. ^ "New Year honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Ian Athfield – DipArch". University of Auckland. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  9. ^ "Honorary graduates and Hunter fellowships | Victoria University of Wellington". victoria.ac.nz. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  10. ^ Weir, Jim (2007). Strong language: very quotable New Zealand quotes. Auckland: New Holland Publishers. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-86966-182-3.
  11. ^ a b "Ian Charles Athfield". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 19 May 2023.
  12. ^ Romanos, Joseph (25 June 2009). "The Wellingtonian interview: Ian Athfield". The Wellingtonian. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  13. ^ "WellUrban: Nightmare on Taranaki St". Wellurban.blogspot.com. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  14. ^ MacManus, Joel (17 February 2022). "Wellington to get 300 new public homes in $296m development". Dominion Post.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Architect of Dreams, directed by Geoffrey Cawthorn, produced by Richard Riddiford.
  16. ^ "Rough Guides". Roughguides.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Kelburn Campus Plaques | Victoria University of Wellington". Victoria University of Wellington. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Home – Architectus". Architectus.com.au. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  19. ^ "Chews Lane Precinct :: Homepage". Chewslane.co.nz. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  20. ^ "Wellington Waterfront". Wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Clyde Quay Wharf Officially Opens » Clyde Quay Wharf". www.clydequaywharf.co.nz. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  22. ^ "Wellington toilets may become pizza kiosk". Stuff. The Dominion Post (Wellington). Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  23. ^ "Kate Sheppard Exchange, For Lease, Office, Wellington Central, Wellington". Colliers International. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  24. ^ "Investment Management – Managed Funds – AMP Capital New Zealand" (PDF). Ampcapital.co.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  25. ^ Calman, Matt (9 October 2008). "$90m plan for new waterfront tower". Stuff. The Dominion Post (Wellington).
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