2014 Simon Devitt Prize for Photography

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The winner of this years Simon Devitt Prize for Photography competition is Alice O’Brien-Gortner.

The annual competition, now in it’s seventh year, was established at the Auckland School of Architecture and Planning.

O’Brien-Gortner, a third-year Bachelor of Architectural Studies student, receives a trophy and $1000 prize money after her image was chosen from a field of twenty finalists.

This year’s theme was The In-Between and I selected Extinguished as the winning entry because this is where the image seems to live.

There is a highly evocative sense of ‘another’ place we get when we experience this photograph.

O’Brien-Gortner has created an imagined world that perhaps raisers more questions than it answers for the viewer.

Her photograph leaves us in a challenging and uneasy place, wondering how we arrived.

A selection this years best entries are on show until 7 June as part of the Auckland festival of Photography.

The 2014 Simon Devitt Prize for Photography Exhibition
28 May-7 June
Foyer, Conference Centre
The University of Auckland
22 Symonds Street

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New Photography Galleries

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Busy times!

There’s been plenty of nipping around the countryside recently for me, and now you get to enjoy the fruits with an eclectic architectural jaunt around NZ.

There’s something for everyone: from the grandeur of Government House to a temporary, street-side cinema in Auckland.

Digital process : PixSolution

Anya’s House »

Digital process : PixSolution

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki »

Digital process : PixSolution

Government House »

Digital process : PixSolution

Studio 19 Bach »

Digital process : PixSolution

Stairway Cinema »

Digital process : PixSolution

Takapuna House »

Elle Decor Italia

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Portrait of a House has been doing a little world trip, this time popping up in the book review section of the incredibly stylish Elle Decor Italia.

If your Italian is a bit rusty here’s what they said:

“Featuring architectural daring from New Zealand.

Discover this home and project created on the hill by architect Ian Athfield.

An innovative publication, charmingly presented and photographed by Simon Devitt.

 

 

The Hobson Magazine

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I was chuffed to find Portrait of a House reviewed by Tommy Honey in The Hobson magazine December 2013 issue.

“The most intriguing and certainly the most personal book on architecture published this year is Portrait of a House (Balasoglou Books) by photographer Simon Devitt.

It is, as Devitt states, “a portrait of the Athfield House, the village on the hill”.

Ian Athfield, once the enfant terrible of New Zealand architecture, and his wife Claire, started building their house high on the hill in Khandallah, Wellington, nearly 50 years ago.

The story of their house is told almost entirely in pictures (some archival, some taken by Devitt over a 10 year period), anecdotes and recipes.

It is the intimate made public and a reflection of the Athfields’ generosity and Devitt’s commitment.

A beautiful, beautiful book.”

Urban design critic Tommy Honey is a former architect, now Dean of College at Parnell’s Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design. He lives in Remuera.

Architectural Awards reveals More Winners!

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The winning just doesn’t stop!

The Institute of Architects’ Local Awards for Auckland were held last night and I’m thrilled to see some of my clients fantastic work has been recognised.

Congratulations to:

AUT Sir Paul Reeves Building: Jasmax Limited

Takapuna House: Athfield Architects

University of Auckland University Hall: Warren and Mahoney Architects

Cliff Top House: Xsite Architects

Arruba Bay Bach: Bossley Architects

Good luck everyone for the Nationals which will be announced in 2014!

Vote NOW for the maggie awards

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The Maggies, more formally known as the Magazine Cover Awards 2013, are upon us.

VOTE NOW (pretty please) for my Architecture NZ magazine cover featuring Parnell’s Geyser building.
It’s as simple as heading over to Business and Trade Section after leaping via this link and then hitting the Submit Vote page.

And you’ll score a magazine voucher too. Ace.

Final votes must be made by Friday 17 October.

New Publications Galleries

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Looking for some fresh images for your eyeballs?
Recently loaded onto the site are photographs from two publications I have worked on.

To get your through the final days of winter and inspire you for the warmer days ahead, there’s Summer Houses with writer Andrea Stevens. I have captured more than 20 of this country’s most stunning homes and holiday retreats, each designed to maximise the connection to their environment and provide for a relaxed style of living.

View the gallery here »

Group Architects

In 1946 a precocious bunch of second-year Auckland architecture students in 1946 established themselves as what would become Group Architects, a celebrated architectural practice which still influences architects, thrills lovers peace, light comfort and beauty today. This book, edited by Julia Gatley follows the group from their early mid-century beginnings through to the structures still used today.

View the gallery here »

New Photography Galleries

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Two new galleries are now up for your viewing pleasure.

In the domestic gallery is Stradwick House in Auckland, designed by Marc Lithgow of Space Division. Awarded 2011 New Zealand Institute of Architects Auckland Architecture Award for Residential Architecture, this sensitively created family home sits on a tree filled section on the North Western slopes of Mount Albert.

View the gallery here »

Omarino, Bay of Islands, NZ

Nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s iconic Bay of Islands is picture perfect Omarino, the subject of my latest addition to the Process Gallery.
The photographs were used in a campaign developed by Jill Brinsdon of branding studio Radiation to promote parcels of land in this stunning location.

View the gallery here »