Sir Miles Warren | |
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.jpg) Warren in 2011 | |
| Born | (1929-05-10)10 May 1929 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Died | 9 August 2022(2022-08-09) (aged 93) Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Alma mater | Auckland University College |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | NZIA Gold Medal (1959, 1964, 1969, 1973, 2000) |
| Practice | Warren and Mahoney |
| Buildings |
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Sir Frederick Miles WarrenONZ KBEFNZIA (10 May 1929 – 9 August 2022) was a New Zealand architect. He apprenticed underCecil Wood before studying architecture at theUniversity of Auckland, eventually working at the London County Council where he was exposed to BritishNew Brutalism. Upon returning to Christchurch, and forming the practiceWarren and Mahoney, he was instrumental in developing the "Christchurch School" of architecture, an intersection between the truth-to-materials and structural expression that characterised Brutalism, and the low-key, Scandinavian and Japanese commitment to "straightforwardness". He retired from Warren and Mahoney in 1994 but continued to consult as an architect and maintain his historic home and garden atOhinetahi.
Warren was born inChristchurch on 10 May 1929, the son of Jean and Maurice Warren.[1] He was educated atChrist's College. He commenced his architectural training as an apprentice toCecil Wood and studied architecture via correspondence at the Christchurch Atelier. Warren later moved to Auckland to complete his studies at theUniversity of Auckland.[2]
Warren's first major building was theDorset Street Flats (designed in 1956) that were derided as prison-like due to their small scale and exposed concrete. This domestic vocabulary was quickly adapted to various building types – the Dental Nurses School (1958), the architect's own office and home (1962), Harewood Crematorium (1963), Christchurch College (now known asCollege House) (1964) and theChristchurch Town Hall (1972).[3]
Warren & Mahoney won the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) Gold Medal in 1959, 1964, 1969 and 1973.[4] In 1966 they won the American Institute of Architects' Pan Pacific Citation, an award also given to among others the architectsKenzo Tange andHarry Seidler. Warren was awarded the NZIA Gold Medal as an individual in 2000.[5][4] Warren andPeter Beaven are the only two Christchurch architects who have been awarded both the New Zealand Institute of Architects gold medal.[6]
In the1974 New Year Honours, Warren was appointed aCommander of the Order of the British Empire,[7] advanced toKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the1985 New Year Honours,[8] and appointed to theOrder of New Zealand in the1995 Queen's Birthday Honours.[9] In 2001 he received an Honorary Doctorate from theUniversity of Auckland, and in 2003 he received an Icon Award from theArts Foundation of New Zealand.[10] In March 2009, Warren was commemorated as one of theTwelve Local Heroes, and a bronze bust of him was unveiled outside theChristchurch Arts Centre.[11]
For his 80th birthday, his work was the basis of an exhibition at theChristchurch Art Gallery, which was also shown at theUniversity of Auckland'sGus Fisher Gallery in 2010.[12]
In 2011 Warren was profiled onArtsville, aTVNZ arts documentary series.[13]
Critics of his work and its impact on the Victorian architectural heritage of Christchurch includeDuncan Fallowell, who has written: "his buildings can't manage the simplest attributes of good design or benevolence".[14]
In 2015, the NZIA replaced their Architecture Medal award with four named awards honouring prominent New Zealand architects, including the Sir Miles Warren Award for Commercial Architecture.[15]
In addition to his passion for architecture Warren was also well known as a keen and talented gardener. The garden at 65 Cambridge Terrace (pictured above) was admired for its simplicity. In 1977, with Pauline and John Trengrove, Warren began work on the garden atOhinetahi.[16] This garden includes a formal rose garden, a walled "red and green" garden and awoodland garden. Warren also designed a display garden for the 2009Ellerslie Flower Show. In 2012 Warren gifted his house and garden to the people of New Zealand via the Ohinetahi Charitable Trust.[17]
Warren died in Christchurch on 9 August 2022 at the age of 93.[3][18]
Miles Warren: An Autobiography was published by Canterbury University Press in November 2008.[19][20]
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