The moment of truth had finally arrived, after a few thousand hours and a hundred or so trips back and forth to New Plymouth for Jo, Director of Atelier Aitken. She headed down to the opening of the Govett Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre to see it completed and open to the public.
On returning home from Paris, where Jo had been working with International architect, Jean Nouvel, Jo was hired independently to work with Patterson Associates, on this unique project for the New Plymouth District Council. Jo and Andrew worked closely on this project from the Brief Consultation and Design Phases through to the Construction Phase. Faced with a brilliant once in a lifetime project brief, developed by the Gallery and Len Lye Foundation, along with plenty of local opposition and a tight budget, this ambitious project was an intense journey that was both challenging and exhilarating. The success of this project was aided by the talent of some of New Zealand's leading building experts including Services Engineers - E-Cubed, Acoustic Engineers - Marshall Day, Facade Engineers - Mott Macdonald, Structural and Fire Engineers - Holmes Consulting and Quantity Surveyors - Rider Levitt Bucknall. The local contractors, Clelands and their subcontractors, particularly Emmetts (Concrete) and Rivet (Stainless steel) all put in an amazing effort to pull everything together - and wow, what a brilliant result. Thank you!
Click on the photograph below for a link to the 'Black Magazine Online' article which includes several other stunning photographs by Patrick Reynolds or keep scrolling for more photos.
The Len Lye Centre facade. Photo by Patrick Reynolds. Source: Black Magazine Online
