Ron Sang

Ron Sang was one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most celebrated architects. Born and raised in Suva, Fiji, he migrated to New Zealand in 1957 where he went on to study architecture at the University of Auckland, graduating in 1964.

He went into practice working for several large architectural firms before becoming a partner in Mark-Brown Fairhead and Sang in 1969.

In 1976, with colleague Simon Carnachan, he designed his most recognised building: the Japanese-inspired Brake House in Titirangi, Auckland. The building is designated a Category 1 Heritage Site with New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and received an Endurign Architecture Award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) in 2001.

In 1988 Sang established Sang Architects & Company Limited, a family business that he led until his retirement in 2017.

He was a firm supporter of New Zealand craft and art, and often incorporated New Zealand artworks into his domestic and commercial interiors. He was a committee member of the Aotea Centre Works of Art Committee from 1988, and established his own publishing house which produced books on Len Castle, Michael Smither, Ralph Hōtere, John Drawbridge, Guy Ngan, Vincent Ward, Pat Hanly, Greer Twiss, Mervyn Williams and Robert Ellis.

In 2000 he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to architecture and the arts.

He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on 11 June 2021, aged 82.

See also:

• Architect Ron Sang, patron of the arts, leaves a monumental legacy | Stuff (Dominion Post)
• Ron Sang (Wikipedia)
• Ron Sang | Satellites Archive
• Obituary: Ron Sang | Architecture Now