Twenty-four architectural projects from across Wellington and the Kāpiti Coast were shortlisted as the very best in Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Local Awards in 2025, spanning a range of projects from world-leading sustainable buildings to Category 1 heritage restorations.
126LQ (Massey House) took out a very deserving win in the heritage category, under the expertise of architecture+ with the judge's citation noting: "The restoration of Massey House, Wellington's modernist icon, is a remarkable achievement. Through a process akin to architectural excavation, layers of paint and 90s-era tinfoil have been meticulously removed to reveal the building's original fabric. Alongside essential work to repair the façade and seismically upgrade the structure, the architects have carefully documented paint samples and studied historical photographs to ensure that updates to the iconic foyers and roof terrace remain true to the original design. The signature pink of the façade, along with the newly created Resene colour “Massey House Blue,” have been thoughtfully threaded through the stair and lightwells. Iconic elements, such as the suspended clouds and original timber entry handles, serve as enduring touchpoints to the building’s history.
Understand more about the heritage of Massey House in in the official listing with Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga, in this story by Laura Jamieson and in this review by Felicity Wong.
