TE AWA - The Base Shopping Centre
Award: Landscape – Commended
Project: TE AWA - The Base Shopping Centre
Entrant: Nauhria Precast Limited
Owner: Tainui Group Holdings Limited
Architect: Ignite Architects
Consultant: Holmes Consulting Group
Contractor: Naylor Love Construction
Other Firms: Mansergh Graham Landscape Architects; Peter Robinson Paving
What the judges said
There was no entry that seemed to fit specifically into this Award category, but the judging panel decided that there were entries that did display strong attributes consistent with the landscaping award criteria that made them worthy contenders. There was no outright winner in this category, but the Hamilton shopping centre, TE AWA - The Base, deserved a special commendation for its extensive use of concrete in different forms and for the relationship of those finishes to the nearby river. Designed by Ignite Architects for Tainui Group Holdings Ltd, the project features polished precast concrete panels manufactured by Nauhria Precast using their "MONARC" diamond honing process. The name Te Awa means 'The River' and the reflections in these panels are designed to represent the reflections in the nearby Waikato River. Contrasting exposed aggregate paved areas also represents the gravel in the river. Inside the shopping centre, diamond honed concrete table tops in the food court complete the river illusion with the inclusion of green glass pebbles in the concrete mix.
New Zealand's newest and largest shopping centre is situated at The Base shopping complex in Te Rapa, Hamilton. Owned by Tainui Holdings Ltd, TeAWA is a symbolic reflection of the mighty Waikato River - a main arterial source of life to the region.
The vision for TeAWA Shopping Centre has been enhanced through the creative use of concrete as primary elements of the building. This results in an enduring and timeless architecture.
The essence and natural form of the river is reflected in the careful selection of textures, colour and sculptural relief to the concrete finish. The exposed aggregate reminds us of the river bed, whilst the upper levels of the mall and the EFTE transparent roof were inspired by the river banks and overhanging trees and foliage.
Excellence in the use of concrete is demonstrated through the functional precast walls and the attention to detail and visual appearance which contributes to the rhythm of the facades and surrounding pavements.
The MONARC diamond honed walls stretch over 135m long and impressive precast panels soar up to 14m in height with some panel weights exceeding 30 tonne each.
Achieving the consistency to such a high standard between each panel and also to the shear mass and dimension is in itself an accolade to the project and to concrete use.
