Ian Athfield

Ian Charles Athfield, a notable architect, was born in Christchurch on July 15 1940. In 1963 he graduated from Auckland School of Architecture with an Architectural Diploma. 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 (Manson).

Projects

In 1968 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 work of Mies van der Rohe with their precise and refined detailing of industrial materials.

Yet another area of influence 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 (Manson). Another criticism of Athfields 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” (Manson).

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 has included churches, pubs, council flats, stadiums and commercial high-rise buildings. Athfield's satisfaction from large commercial buildings, such as Wellington's Telecom Towers, came from his belief that such buildings make a city. Because of this he made sure his buildings addressed the city positively rather than standing away from it (Manson). Athfields best known works include Telecom Towers, Civic Square and Wellington Library, Jade Stadium in Christchurch and work on the design of the Bangkok rapid transport system. Over the past 40 years Ian Athfield has reshaped Wellington and other parts of New Zealand with his free spirited creativity. He has been a considerable professional and personal influence on a generation of younger architects. He is the current President of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, judges many design competitions and is a keynote speaker at many overseas conferences. He is still deeply engaged in the practice architecture and current projects include Chews Lane Precinct, the Wellington Overseas Passenger Terminal redevelopment and the Wellington Marine Education Centre.

Awards

Ian Athfield has 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. Ian was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1996. He received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997 from The University of Auckland. Over the years he has 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.

Notable works include:

*Athfield House, Wellington (begun 1968)
* [http://wellurban.blogspot.com/2007/01/nightmare-on-taranaki-st.html#c116925472827200450 Arlington Council Flats] (1970)
*Cox House, Wellington (1975)
* [http://www.ab.deakin.edu.au/online/PRIMER_2002/demo5/main_menu/proj/firstchurch/frame_a.htm First Church of Christ Science] (1983)
* [http://www.logicalcsihouse.co.nz/ Logical CSI House] (1986-1987)
*Telecom on Manners Street (1988)
* [http://www.wcl.govt.nz/about/branches/central/ Wellington City Library] (1991)
* [http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/venues/details/civic.html Civic Square] , Wellington (1992)
* [http://www2.vuw.ac.nz/home/about_victoria/plaques.html Extensions to Student Union building] , Victoria University of Wellington (1992)
* [http://www.citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz Palmerston North City Library] extensions (1997)
*Rooftop additions to Te Puni Kokiri House (1998)
* [http://www2.vuw.ac.nz/home/about_victoria/plaques.html Adam Art Gallery] , Victoria University of Wellington (1999)
* [http://www.stpauls.co.nz/ St Pauls Apartments] (2000)
* [http://www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz/development/Taranaki_street_wharf/odlin_building/ Odlins Building refurbishment] (2005)
* [http://www.dowse.org.nz/ TheNewDowse Museum] (2006)
* [http://www.chewslane.co.nz/ Chews Lane Precinct] (begun 2006, to be completed c.2009)
* [http://www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz/development/Taranaki_street_wharf/whats_proposed/ Taranaki Street Wharf] (begun 2006)
* [http://www.aquariumnz.org.nz/building_introduction.shtml Wellington Marine Education Centre] (proposed, denied by the Environment Court in 2007 on appeal; new location proposed)
* [http://www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz/development/waitangi/overseas_passenger_terminal/ Overseas Passenger Terminal redevelopment] (proposed; construction scheduled to start in 2009)
* [http://www.colliers.co.nz/6802/ Kate Sheppard Exchange] (proposed)

ee also

*Roger Walker
*Miles Warren

External links

* [http://www.athfieldarchitects.co.nz/ Athfield Architects]
* [http://www.wellington.govt.nz/aboutwgtn/innovation/details/athfield.html Wellington City Council - Innovation Capital profile]