Parish Overcomes Earthquake Strengthening and Wins Architecture Award
The challenges faced by parishes in managing earthquake-prone buildings were highlighted in a recent win by St Hilda’s Anglican in Island Bay at the Wellington Architecture Awards.
In receiving the award, Priest in Charge, Rev. Mark Henderwood acknowledged the financial constraints and the cooperative spirit that led to the successful transformation of their church:
“When our small suburban church with a part-time priest approached First Light Studio to say we’ve got an earthquake-prone building and only $120k in the bank, they agreed to form a team with us… and just look at the result!"
For nearly two decades, St Hilda’s Island Bay had been grappling with the burden of earthquake strengthening.
The former unattractive brickwork failed to reflect the vibrant community within and the decision was made to seek a new, transparent façade that resonated with life of the parish.
The successful renovation has allowed the church to become a more integral part of the local community, hosting events like gigs and arts trail activities.
Earthquake prone buildings feature throughout the diocese with 21 buildings identified as falling below the National Building Standard rating of 34%.
The challenges for parishes include, whether to
Fund the strengthening work for earthquake prone buildings. (including government set deadlines for the strengthening of buildings). Or, to
Re-think and re-imagine what church might look like. Asking questions like, how is this building supporting (or not) the building the kingdom of God? Is this building fit for purpose in the support mission in my neighbourhood and community?
Currently, several parishes such as All Saints Palmerston North, All Saints Hataitai, St John’s Featherston and St Alban’s Eastbourne worship in spaces other than their traditional worship space.
The move to a new space has caused parishes to ask questions about the mission of the church, how we gather and how we remain community facing. In these places, new expressions of church are found in school halls, community centres and multi-use halls while the old worshipping space lay boarded up.
The experience is similar for those church planting in the diocese. Nimbleness and adaptability are characteristic of new experiments of faith in our communities.
For St Hilda’s, completing their renovation was long, and required patience and flexibility.
The awards at the Wellington Architecture Awards and also at the 2023 NZ Timber Design Awards are well deserved.
The NZ Timber Design awards recognized their efforts in blending heritage construction with modern timber innovation.
The design’s standout feature, a folded aluminium veil across a 9m window, symbolizes navigation and finding direction. It incorporates elements like local landforms, the sea, horizon, clouds, and stars, serving as wayfinding devices pointing upwards towards God and the cross. This increased transparency and luminosity encourage a spiritual upliftment, aligning with the church’s mission.
Mark concluded with a heartfelt reflection on the project’s success: "I’ve not understood like I do now, why so many church foundation stones include the words ‘To the glory of God,’ but I felt we have achieved this description in the design, amongst the community and even at the awards ceremony. Good ol’ God aye?"
Wellington Architecture Awards
Winner - Small Project Architecture: St Hilda’s Church Renovation by First Light Studio.
https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/winners-revealed-wellington-architecture-awards-2024/
https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/local/award-detail/11750
NZ Timber Design Awards
2023 Timber Design Awards Commercial & Public Building Design Award - Highly Commended Peoples Choice Award - Highly Commended
https://firstlightstudio.co.nz/news/st-hildas-timber-design-awards