13 Nov 2017

Tongan Meeting house wins major architecture award

From Afternoons, 1:15 pm on 13 November 2017

The New Zealand Architechture Awards were held on Friday night, and one of the winners was the designer of the stunning Lesieli Tonga Auditorium in Mangere.

The jury said of the building: "Under the vast blanket of a frangipani-patterned ceiling - the building's singular gesture -  more than 1,500 congregants can gather for feasts and festivities, celebrations and commemorations. The robust building admirably meets its users' needs, and is testament to its architect's determination and the depth of his community engagement."

The architect was Michael O'Sullivan of Bull Sullivan Architects, who tells us about the project.

Lesieli Tonga Auditorium, which was one of the winners at the 2017 NZ Architecture Awards

Lesieli Tonga Auditorium, which was one of the winners at the 2017 NZ Architecture Awards Photo: supplied