Brick Bay Folly 2026 Now Open!

Within the Wings of the Kāruhiruhi

A poetic new folly inspired by the pied shag and the rhythms of nature, Within the Wings of the Kāruhiruhi is now open at Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. Recently featured on Seven Sharp, the project follows a team of emerging architects as they transformed an ambitious concept into a full-scale architectural installation.

Watch the video

Directed by Joe Hammond of Lagoon Films, this short film captures the story behind Within the Wings of the Kāruhiruhi, the winning installation of the 2026 Brick Bay Folly.

Meet the 2026 Folly Winning Team

The winning design team behind Within the Wings of the Kāruhiruhi are recent graduates from the University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning.

The project was developed and built by:

  • Nyle Macaranas

  • Rain Nario

  • Naomi Felicia

  • Jasleen Basra

  • Sufyaan Chuttur

Together, the team brought a shared interest in experimental architecture, material storytelling and the relationship between people and landscape. Their proposal for the 2026 Brick Bay Folly explores ideas of impermanence, transformation and the quiet moments of observation that often inspire design.

Although the team had extensive experience designing architecture through university study, the construction of the folly marked their first opportunity to realise a project of this scale. Working alongside mentors, sponsors and industry collaborators, they navigated the challenges of translating a conceptual design into a full-scale built structure.

Through this process of experimentation, collaboration and refinement, the project evolved into a striking architectural installation that reflects both the ambition of the competition and the generosity of the community supporting it.

From Competition Concept to Built Structure

While the original competition proposal established the architectural vision, the structure evolved significantly as the project moved toward construction.

Working closely with mentors and sponsors, the design was refined to improve its structural resilience while preserving the spirit of the original concept.

Curved timber ribs were introduced into the design, creating a stronger structural system while also enhancing the fluid and expressive quality of the wings. These refinements required careful adjustments to the geometry of the structure - sometimes by only millimetres or a single degree - but together they helped achieve a form that works both structurally and visually.

Full-scale prototyping also revealed the realities of building beyond digital models. Variations in timber and construction tolerances required the team to develop a system capable of accommodating small inconsistencies while maintaining the precision of the design.

Through this iterative process of testing, collaboration and refinement, the project ultimately became stronger and more expressive than the original proposal.

The Finished Folly

  •

The Official Opening Day

We were met with spectacular sunshine on the morning of the official opening, as guests gathered beneath Within the Wings of the Kāruhiruhi to celebrate the culmination of months of design, collaboration and hard work. Surrounded by whānau, mentors, sponsors and supporters, the folly was officially welcomed into the Brick Bay landscape.

A Meaningful Beginning

Ngāti Manuhiri led the opening blessing for Within the Wings of the Kāruhiruhi, acknowledging the connection between people, place and landscape.

Passing the Torch

Nat Cheshire shared a moving reflection on creativity, mentorship and the enduring legacy of his father, Pip Cheshire, who passionately supported the Brick Bay Folly programme from its very beginning and helped guide eleven years of emerging architectural talent.

Behind the Build

Unitec’s Keith Mann brought humour, generosity and countless hours of hands-on support to the project, guiding the team through the realities of full-scale construction, from complex fabrication challenges to the unforgettable task of preserving thousands of leaves with glycerine, and the clouds of flies that quickly followed.

Words of Encouragement

Richard Didsbury spoke passionately about the future of architecture in Aotearoa, encouraging the team to keep pushing boundaries and reminding them how proud their families, peers and the wider Brick Bay community should be of what they had achieved. He reaffirmed Brick Bay’s ongoing support for emerging designers and the next generation of architectural talent.

A Moment of Pride

The team reflected on the journey behind Within the Wings of the Kāruhiruhi, sharing their gratitude to the mentors, sponsors, friends and whānau who helped bring the project to life. Balancing the build alongside the final stages of their Master of Architecture degrees, the team spoke candidly about the pressure, uncertainty and pride that came with transforming an unexpected win into a full-scale reality.

Featured on Seven Sharp - watch now

A Collaborative Effort

While the folly is the work of the winning design team, its realisation has been made possible through the generous support of mentors, sponsors and collaborators.

Construction guidance, materials and technical expertise from across the architecture and construction community helped transform the design from an ambitious student proposal into a full-scale built structure.

As the team reflected:

“We are very inexperienced in construction, and none of us had ever built anything beyond scale models at university. This project would not have been possible without the guidance and generosity of our mentors, and we are incredibly grateful for their support.”

— The Team

Mentors including Steve Cassidy, Gabriela Tufare, Pip Cheshire and Keith Mann played a vital role in guiding the design through its evolution while helping maintain the integrity of the original architectural idea. Pip Cheshire, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most respected architects and a long-standing supporter of the Brick Bay Folly programme, generously shared his insight during the early stages of the project. His contribution to the programme and to this year’s team is warmly remembered.

The Folly judging panel

This year’s Brick Bay Folly was judged by an experienced panel from across architecture, construction and design.

The 2026 judges were Pip Cheshire from Cheshire Architects, Steve Cassidy from Cassidy Construction, Karmen Hoare from Resene, Peter Boardman from Structure Design, Keith Mann from Unitec, Amanda Harkness from Architecture New Zealand, Richard and Anna Didsbury from Brick Bay, and Oliver Prisk from the 2025 Folly winning team.

Brick Bay Folly 2026 Sponsors

2026 Project Supporters

There's lots to see and do at Brick Bay

Visitors are warmly invited to experience Brick Bay not just to see the new folly, but to also discover previous Folly winners on the Sculpture Trail, dine in The Glass House Restaurant and taste our estate grown wines.

Plan Your Visit