Elegance, grandeur and charm: winners of the 2025 New Zealand architecture awards – in pictures

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hospitality – Te Mānia by Stevens Lawson ArchitectsThis luxury guest residence at Craggy Range winery was praised for its assertiveness and idiosyncrasy.

Spread across 11 categories, winners include church conversions, bridges and homes set against New Zealand’s wild landscapes

Te Mānia by Stevens Lawson Architects won the hospitality category in the 2025 New Zealand architecture awards. Photograph: Richard Brimmer

Guardian staff

Fri 21 Nov 2025 01.04 CETLast modified on Fri 21 Nov 2025 01.08 CET

heritage (renovations and strengthening) – Chapel of the Upper Room by Wilkie+Bruce Registered ArchitectsThe architects were praised for their upgrade of this much-loved college for Canterbury University, designed by Warren & Mahoney in the 1960s. The judges said the renovations were done with care and thought, to not diminish its interior space.

housing – Kaka Pod by Rafe Maclean ArchitectsThis compact, triangular 60sqm home follows the sloping topography, while its curved corners soften its presence in the landscape. The judges said the openings were thoughtfully placed to frame the views and the interior bunkroom loft was a charming addition.

public architecture – Punangairi Visitor Centre by Sheppard & Rout ArchitectsThe visitor centre on the South Island’s West Coast seamlessly sits within its landscape. The sustainable centre has a green roof that not only echoes the tree canopy, but helps manage the West Coast’s notoriously heavy downpours. The judges said it would support regenerative tourism and deliver lasting benefits to the local community.

planning and urban design – Te Ara Pekapeka by Edwards White Architects and BBO in associationJudges described the bridge in Hamilton as an elegant work of architecture, that adds dynamism and presence to a place that might otherwise have been defined by a purely functional engineering solution. The structure was built in a way that did not interfere with the Waikato River, which is culturally significant to Māori, and to minimise its environmental impact.

hospitality – Sugarloaf at Flockhill by Hierarchy GroupThis restaurant, set within the dramatic alpine landscape uses a rich palette of natural materials. The judges said the design achieved a balance of grandeur, intimacy and precision.

housing – Bush Block by Patchwork ArchitectureA constrained budget, challenging site conditions did stop this house from being both practical and poetic, judges said. A simple box showcased “efficient planning, innovative materials, and the clarity of their application”.

small project – BB House, by Upoko Architects At 6x6 metres, this house demonstrated how thoughtful design can transform a small site, the judges said, added it was a compact yet generous home that delighted at every turn.The house prioritised privacy, with screened courtyards and windows placed high, while the bedroom challenged ideas around contemporary living.

housing – Openfield House by Keshaw McArthur and Matheson Whiteley (UK) in associationJudges said this South Island home holds its ground against the vast scale of the landscape and volatility of the environment. ”Refinement is evident in the acute attention to materiality, tonal harmony, and texture, all hallmarks of a design of high calibre,” they said.

housing (alterations and additions) -Wainui Church Conversion by Warren and Mahoney Architects and Objects in associationThe transformation of this church into a family holiday home, was applauded for its sensitivity to the building’s original construction, while being inventive in is modern transformation.

housing – Popadich House by Davor Popadich ArchitectsThis home, which also won the Sir Ian Athfield award for housing, was praised as a mature work from an experienced architect demonstrating that the flexibility of the plan and the adaptability of spaces provides an adaptable environment for everyday family use and activities.

small project – Walker Box by Micah / Architecture This three-storied tower house tackled budget, size and building constraints, judges noted. While it paid homage to famous architect Roger Walker, the geometric purity of its compositions were distinctively the architect’s own.

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