ABSTRACT
Australia and New Zealand have a modern history of using concrete and steel for commercial construction but timber has a longer history. The timber industry is a larger part of New Zealand's overall economy than Australia's. The industrial timber frame structures that run almost the length of the jetty today are refurbished and house a hotel, restaurant, and residential apartments. With the main entries on a prominent east-west campus axis, the Nelson Marlborough Institute (NMIT) Arts building welcomes students with an impressive three-story atrium space that doubles as gallery and extends the campus circulation pattern inside and through the building. The architecture of the Arts Building itself embodies the notion of exhibition not inhibition. The performance-based design in Australia and New Zealand has led to more opportunities and design potential in the use of timber. Already with several of the world's most innovative timber buildings, Australia and New Zealand are creating a one-of-a-kind wood building culture.
