Brick Bay Folly 2026 Winner
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 currently under construction and will officially open at Brick Bay on 9 May 2026.
The project was recently featured on Seven Sharp, following the design team as they transformed their ambitious concept into a full-scale build at Brick Bay.
Meet the 2026 Folly 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:
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.
Featured on Seven Sharp
The project was recently featured on Seven Sharp, following the design team as they transformed their ambitious concept into a full-scale build at Brick Bay.
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 Jennifer Gao from the 2023 Folly winning team.
Visit Brick Bay Before the Opening
While the new folly will officially open in May, visitors are warmly invited to experience Brick Bay now to discover previous Folly winners on the Sculpture Trail, dine in The Glass House Restaurant and taste our estate grown wines.
Brick Bay Folly 2026 Sponsors
