Lions Lodge

Recognised for realising the brief to perfection, Chow:Hill’s award-winning design for the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge delivers an architecture of domestic scale. The brief was to design a home away from home, creating a facility that was residential rather than institutional, both in look and feel. The result, according to judges of the 2011 NZIA Awards Waikato/Bay of Plenty Commercial Architecture Award, was perfection. Chow:Hill’s redesign of the Cancer Society’s 2,500m² 50-bed residence aimed to foster healing and nurture a sense of calm and hope. Through the careful selection of warm, domestic materials, and the maximisation of natural light and views beyond the building, the Chow:Hill team created a light-filled sanctuary, with open-plan communal areas, sheltered courtyards and comfortable suites where residents connect with family and friends, while benefitting from a wide variety of services and community support. Cedar timber boarding on the Lodge’s exterior reinforces the domestic architectural aesthetic, while emphasising a sense of height and strength. Internally, floor-to-ceiling windows and a light colour palette achieve a restful airy interior, and double glazing ensures thermal comfort and energy efficiency throughout. Photography by Craig Brown.