Our Architecture & Art

The College House buildings and campus were designed by Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney of Warren and Mahoney.

Most of the buildings were completed in 1964-67. As the college grew (and admitted women) later additions were made in the early 1990s and 2000s.

Warren and Mahoney’s ‘well-mannered modernism’ design for the College won the New Zealand Institute of Architects’ (NZIA) Gold Medal in 1969 and the NZIA Enduring Award in 1999. Read more about Warren and Mahoney’s design.

A Conversation with Sir Miles Warren

In 2014, we commissioned a short film on the architecture, to capture the essence of Sir Miles’ design and the stories behind the architecture of one of New Zealand’s most beautiful buildings.

Walk with Sir Miles around the quad, chapel and library whilst he talks about how the buildings were commissioned, and why it was designed in such a different way from most university halls of residence.

The video was filmed and edited by College House alumnus, Seung-woo Hong (2011-12) and directed by Adrienne Olsen, Adroite Communications.

Art at College House

In 1981 it was proposed by past houseman and Board Fellow Alex Baird, that part of College House’s income each year should be spent on buying contemporary works of art to expose students to the type of art they may not see in their own homes; the type of art that would be challenging and would invoke debate, discussion or reflection.

A sub-committee, led by Alex Baird, set about building up the collection over the next 22 years which today comprises one of the leading private collections of contemporary art in New Zealand. There are now more than 100 works and the artists include Shane Cotton, Gary Collins, Tony de Latour, Seraphine Pick and Bill Hammond amongst others.

Alex Baird died suddenly in 2003 and the collection is now known as the ‘Alex Baird Collection of Contemporary Art’ in his memory. 

We are extremely proud of our art collection and welcome the opportunity to show this off to members of the public. Please book a tour though our Office on 03 364 2245 or ea@collegehouse.org.nz