Tourist design awards

Press, 1 December 1978, Page 13

Tourist design awards

By

JOHN WILSON

Fish scooped the pool in this year’s tourist industry design awards. Of the five full awards, two went to attractions which centre round fish — the Rainbow Springs, Rotorua, and the Hawke’s Bay Aquarium, Napier. Rainbow Springs began life 50 years ago as a motor camp. Today, as a trout sanctuary set among mature trees with an associated aviary and deer park, it attracts more than 300,000 visitors a year. The Hawke’s Bay Aquarium was opened to the public only two years ago, in December, 1976, Sup-

ported by a vigorous Aquarium Society, the aquarium has as its main feature a 344,000 litre “oceanarium” — a glassed-in replica of a seabed off the New Zealand coast. Other aquatic and reptilian displays are also housed in the building. As in previous years, the restoration of old buildings was recognised. Only one full award went to an old building which, preserved for nostalgic reasons by local . enthusiasts, has become a major tourist attraction. But two other old build-

ings were commended, and three other projects also commended have an historical flavour. The full award went to Broadgreen — a magnificent old cob house in Nelson which was built about 1850 and bought in 1965 by the Nelson City Council. Restored by the council, the Historic Places Trust, and a local voluntary organisation, Friends

of Broadgreen, the house is an architectural gem in a magnificent setting of mature trees and lawns. The two humbler buildings which were commended were Sergeant Barry’s cottage, at Howick, and the Pipiriki Information Centre on the Wanganui River. The three other projects, the commendation of which recognised the part history can

play in attracting tourists, were the Rugby Museum, Palmerston North, the Sound and Light Museum, Queenstown, and the Mitchell’s Gully Goldmine, Charleston. Two national parks which have an important place on the tourist circuit of the South Island were represented. A full award went to the staff flats erected at Mount Cook,

for the use of appropriate materials and for careful landscaping. A full award went also to the M.V. Milford Haven, a four-deck, Auck-land-designed boat which is used for launch excursions on Milford Sound. The Fiordland and Mount Cook National Parks were also recognised, with the new East Wing of the Hermitage (commended for its strong architecture, in keeping with the alpine landscape and existing structures)

and the Flight Service Station at Milford. The five awards and seven commendations were selected from a total of 48 entries. There were too few entries in the new category of souvenirs to justify an award. the awards and commendations aie maue on the recommendation of a selection panel on which are represented architects, landscape architects, the Historic Places Trust, the Industrial Design Council, and the Tourist and Publicity Department.