Miles Warren
Encyclopedia
- For Professor Miles Warren, a supporting character of Spider-Man, see Jackal (Marvel Comics)Jackal (Marvel Comics)The Jackal is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 , and was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Ross Andru. In The Amazing Spider-Man #148 The Jackal is a fictional character that appears in...
Sir Miles Warren, ONZ
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FNZIA
New Zealand Institute of Architects
The New Zealand Institute of Architects is a membership based professional organisation. This body represents 90% of all registered architects in New Zealand and promotes architecture that enhances the New Zealand living environment....
(born in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in 1929) is New Zealand's foremost modern architect. He apprenticed under Cecil Wood before studying architecture at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, eventually working at the London County Council where he was exposed to British New Brutalism
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
. Upon returning to Christchurch, and forming the practice Warren & 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 & Mahoney in 1994, but continues to consult as an architect and maintain his historic home and garden at Ohinetahi.
Education
Warren was educated at Christ's College. He commenced his architectural training as an apprentice to Cecil Wood and studied architecture via correspondence at the Christchurch Atelier. Warren later moved to Auckland to complete his studies at the University of AucklandUniversity of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
.
Architectural achievements
Warren’s first major building was the Dorset 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 as College House) (1964) and the Christchurch Town HallChristchurch Town Hall
The Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the...
(1972). In between these larger projects, Warren & Mahoney designed a group of beautifully detailed houses, mostly in the language of contemporary Danish models. These houses were composed of crisp boxes of white-painted concrete block, with punched, recessed window openings and no eaves or verges on their steeply gabled roofs.
Awards and recognition
Warren & Mahoney won the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) Gold Medal in 1959, 1964, 1969 & 1973. In 1966 they won the American Institute of Architects’ Pan Pacific Citation, an award also given to such luminaries as Kenzo TangeKenzo Tange
was a Japanese architect, and winner of the 1987 Pritzker Prize for architecture. He was one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, combining traditional Japanese styles with modernism, and designed major buildings on five continents. Tange was also an influential protagonist of...
and Harry Seidler
Harry Seidler
Harry Seidler, AC OBE was an Austrian-born Australian architect who is considered to be one of the leading exponents of Modernism's methodology in Australia and the first architect to fully express the principles of the Bauhaus in Australia.Harry Seidler designed more than 180 buildings and he...
. Miles Warren was awarded the NZIA Gold Medal as an individual in 2000. Warren and Peter Beaven are the only two Christchurch architects who have been awarded the New Zealand Institute of Architects gold medal.
Warren was awarded a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1974, advanced to KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1985, and the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
in 1995. In 2001 he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, and in 2003 he received an Icon Award from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand
Arts Foundation of New Zealand
A facilitator of private philanthropy, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand supports artistic excellence through its permanent Endowment Fund. Legacies and donations help grow the Fund, with income generated enabling the Foundation to support the arts....
. In March 2009, Warren was commemorated as one of the Twelve Local Heroes
Twelve Local Heroes
The Twelve Local Heroes is a series of bronze busts located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th...
, and a bronze bust of him was unveiled outside the Christchurch Arts Centre
Christchurch Arts Centre
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort...
.
For his 80th birthday, his work was the basis of an exhibition at the Christchurch Art Gallery, which was also shown at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
's Gus Fisher Gallery
Gus Fisher Gallery
The Gus Fisher Gallery is part of The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries , and is located in The Kenneth Myers Centre, an historic building restored in 2000 with the help of the gallery's patron, Gus Fisher .It is operated by the Centre for New Zealand Art...
in 2010.
In 2011 Warren was profiled on Artsville, a TVNZ
Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
arts documentary series.
Critics of his work and its impact on the Victorian architectural heritage of Christchurch include Duncan Fallowell
Duncan Fallowell
Duncan Fallowell is a novelist, travel writer and cultural commentator. Born in London in 1948, he graduated from Oxford in 1970, and at the age of 21 was given a rock column in the Spectator. He was subsequently the magazine's film critic and fiction critic...
, who has written: "his buildings can't manage the simplest attributes of good design or benevolence".
Gardens
In addition to his passion for architecture Warren is 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 at Ohinetahi. This garden includes a formal rose garden, a walled "red and green" garden and a woodland garden. Warren also designed a display garden for the 2009 Ellerslie Flower ShowEllerslie Flower Show
The Ellerslie International Flower Show is an annual garden show held in New Zealand. Previously held in the city of Auckland, the show moved to Christchurch at Hagley Park in 2008....
.
Autobiography
Miles Warren: An Autobiography was published by Canterbury University Press in November 2008List of designs
- Dorset St Flats (1956–57)
- Dental Nurses Training School (1958–1959)
- Carlton Mill Rd Flats (1960)
- MB Warren House (1961)
- Architect's Office & Flat (1962–1979)
- Harewood Memorial Gardens & Crematorium (1962–1963)
- Christchurch Wool Exchange (1962–1964)
- Christchurch College, University of CanterburyUniversity of CanterburyThe University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
(1964–1970) - I Munro House (1968)
- Christchurch Town HallChristchurch Town HallThe Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the...
(1966–1972) - NZ Chancery, Washington, DC (1975–1981)
- Canterbury Public LibraryChristchurch City LibrariesChristchurch City Libraries are operated by the Christchurch City Council and are a network of 19 libraries and a mobile book bus. The library was formerly known as the Canterbury Public Library.-Early history:...
, ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
(1982) - The Oaks Complex, Wellington (1982)
- Michael Fowler CentreMichael Fowler CentreThe Michael Fowler Centre is a concert hall and convention centre in Wellington, New Zealand. It was constructed on reclaimed land next to Civic Square, and is the pre-eminent concert site in central Wellington....
, WellingtonWellingtonWellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
(1983) - Rotorua Civic Offices (1985–1986)
- Clarendon TowerClarendon TowerClarendon Tower is a high rise building on Worcester Street at Oxford Terrace in the Christchurch Central City. Built on the site of the former Clarendon Hotel, the façade of the historic building was kept in the redevelopment and is protected by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category...
(1986–1987) - AXAAXAAXA S.A. is a French global insurance group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. AXA is a conglomerate of independently run businesses, operated according to the laws and regulations of many different countries. The AXA group of companies engage in life, health and other forms of...
New Zealand Wellington office (1987–1989) - Compudigm House, Wellington (1989)
- TVNZTelevision New ZealandTelevision New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
Centre, Auckland (1990)