Wellington Airport terminal receives international award

The Rock, Wellington Airport’s controversial international terminal has won the Transport category award at the prestigious World Architecture Festival in Barcelona.

With 11 awards already won, the ground-breaking design, by Studio Pacific Architecture in association with Warren and Mahoney, has really captured the attention of many people throughout New Zealand and the world. 

A radical departure from the imagery of lightness and flight common to airports worldwide, the design was inspired by Wellington’s craggy sea-battered coast, evoking the anchoring qualities of the land.

The Rock has also won the Commercial Architecture category at the NZIA Wellington Architecture Awards, which are held annually by the New Zealand Institute of Architects to promote excellence in design and to advance the profession of architecture.

As the awards are given by the professional industry body, they are one of the country's most well-recognised and sought-after architectural awards.

Wellington Airport has also picked up four awards this year, three from the New Zealand Airports Association, as well as being named Australasia's Leading Airport at the World Travel Awards.