A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Meet New Zealand’s world-renowned architectural masters face to face
Leading names gather for a glittering evening in Christchurch
Pictured: nationally treasured architectural designer Damien van Brandenburg, who received an NZCBIA Excellence Award in August this year
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First featured guest: > Fred Van Brandenburg |
An aerial view of the Shenzhen headquarters campus designed by New Zealand designers for fashion brand Marisfrolg
The campus interior fit-out is still in its final stages, but 5000 employees are already working there
On 4 April this year, a distinctive event at Parliament’s Grand Hall in Wellington celebrated the successful completion of the Marisfrolg campus, designed by nationally treasured New Zealand architectural practice Architecture Van Brandenburg. A book documenting the project’s construction was launched at the same event. Industry professionals have hailed the project as one of the most magnificent and extraordinary buildings on Earth.
Designers Fred and Damien Van Brandenburg
Architecture Van Brandenburg began designing the campus in 2007. Its detailed model attracted widespread attention both within and beyond the architectural profession when first exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014. The practice is now completing the campus’s complex interior fit-out, including a T-shaped catwalk, fashion designers’ studios, two museums, an events centre, a boutique, an art gallery and a hotel. This series of design tasks will take several years to complete.
The campus construction site
At this year’s NZCBIA Excellence Awards ceremony in August, the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association presented the project with a special award. Speaking with satisfaction at the dinner, Damian said it was a great honour to receive the award after more than a decade of tireless work by the team.
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Second featured guest: > New Zealand’s Wētā Workshop |
New Zealanders will be very familiar with Wētā Workshop, a six-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. The team also designed AURA, the themed atrium at China’s Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex, which celebrated its grand opening last year.
Liwen Choy speaking at the NZIBES dinner
This project also received a special award at this year’s NZCBIA Excellence Awards ceremony in August. Wētā Workshop designer Liwen Choy introduced the stunning project to attendees. The team’s work primarily covered specialist detailed design, processing, fabrication, supply and installation for the themed atrium’s structures, finishes, lighting, audiovisual systems and interactive media. Its installations included ground-level trees, lily canopies, floating leaf canopies, the Tree of Light, themed screens, the Moon Bridge, tree deer, themed columns, ground-level seating, buttress trees and a stairway to the sky.
Using sound, light, electrical effects and other elements, the project develops its narrative through sensory interaction, natural ecology, large-scale sculptures and multimedia performances, stimulating visitors’ senses at every stage. The result is a wondrous, beautiful and breathtaking immersive performance that transforms duty-free shopping into a cultural and tourism feast, taking shoppers on a journey through a dazzling fantasy of Hainan Island.
The atrium at China’s Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex
We are fortunate to welcome these outstanding teams back to deliver inspiring presentations at the New Zealand International Building Expo and Summit (NZIBES) gala dinner in Christchurch on 3 November.
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Third featured guest: > Experienced New Zealand architect Bob Burnett |
This year’s NZIBES theme is “Reduce Our Carbon Footprint”. The organisers will therefore also welcome experienced architect Bob Burnett, who has spent more than two decades designing energy-efficient, healthy and environmentally friendly homes, to share his ideas and insights. Bob co-founded the Superhome Movement in 2015 to make better building practices the norm, helping to address climate change while improving New Zealanders’ health.
As shown above, Bob’s own home is an earthquake rebuild featuring mechanical ventilation and high-performance insulation to reduce energy consumption.
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Fourth featured guest: > Fossil-fuel-free orchard owner Mike Casey |
Another leading guest, Mike Casey, comes from Central Otago and owns Forest Lodge, the world’s first fossil-fuel-free orchard. At the gala dinner, he will share his pioneering journey to fully electrify his 6-hectare orchard. The orchard has now successfully achieved self-sufficient commercial operation. Everything from New Zealand’s first electric frost fan to its irrigation system, tools and vehicles is powered by on-farm solar generation and battery storage.
GSI Partners director Sean Lysaght, Vero executive manager of rural insurance solutions Sonya Whitney and Forest Lodge orchard owner Mike Casey pictured together
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Fifth featured guest: > New Zealand high jumper Hamish Kerr |
Alongside these industry professionals with extensive experience in construction and sustainability, New Zealand high jumper Hamish Kerr will also attend the event. A celebrated athlete with multiple medals and an appearance at the Tokyo Olympics, Hamish will share his personal experiences and his sporting spirit of fairness and courage at the dinner, offering guests a different perspective and fresh inspiration.
Join us in looking forward to this year’s closing industry highlight, taking place this Friday!
