Friedrich Eisenhofer
Friedrich Eisenhofer, of Waikanae, , received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to architecture. Mr Eisenhofer was a member of a group of post-war architects who made a significant contribution to residential and public architecture. His designs are known for their simple shape and construction using open plan layouts, and for their economical use of building materials. Following an early period designing state houses, he established an architectural partnership that focused on residential design. Examples of his work include more than 2,000 commissions, and include the Whenua Tapu Chapel and Crematorium. He designed a number of restaurants, coffee bars and retail premises, including The Matterhorn and Suzy’s Coffee Bar. More recently, Mr Eisenhofer has become known for his Eco-Buildings, which are designed to maximise solar-gain. This solar-gain work was covered by the Independent on Sunday in 2005 and was part of a documentary series produced by National Geographic.