An Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Architectural Studies graduate has won the student category at the 2020 Dunedin Heritage Awards.

Ilan Avraham, who graduated with a BAS at the end of 2019, has won the Seddons: The Fibrous Plaster Company Student Design Competition Award for his entry, which explores the adaptive re-use of a former furniture workshop building at 232 Rattray St.

Recently bought with a view to sensitively adapting and developing the site, 232 Rattray St was chosen as the location for Bachelor of Architectural Studies students from Otago Polytechnic’s School of Design to enter ideas.

The judges noted that Ilan took an innovative and highly detailed design approach to redeveloping the site as a craft training centre – combining form, function and history into a new way of revitalising associated craft skills.

“Ilan’s entry demonstrates a greater depth of historic research to understand the site and its uses, environmental and social awareness in design, and a sympathetic scaling of new elements to sit comfortably alongside the historic building and features of the former commercial furniture factory.”

In addition, Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Architectural Studies student Mila Makasini received a Highly Commended in the same category.

Mila’s design decisions were driven by a desire to, “showcase a juxtaposition of architectural principles between old and new while retaining a symbiotic recognisable relevance between the forms”.

The student category was re-introduced for the 2020 Awards in partnership with students from Otago Polytechnic in remembrance of their tutor and respected heritage advocate, Michael Findlay, who passed away in July 2019.  The award has been generously sponsored by Seddons The Fibrous Plaster Company to support future aspirations.

The Student Design Competition Award is intended to encourage tertiary student designers to design an innovative re-use of a heritage building in Dunedin.

The 2020 Dunedin Heritage Awards, announced on 20 October, recognised the streetscape impact of heritage buildings, student design, conservation of heritage features and individuals’ services to heritage.

Read more about our Architectural Studies programmes


Published on 23 Oct 2020

Orderdate: 23 Oct 2020
Expiry: 31 Dec 2022