Ron Sang Architect 2017

This beautifully crafted book celebrates the life of Ron Sang; the Architect, Patron of the Arts, Collector, Publisher and the avid Traveler.

 Ron Sang ONZM FNZIA JP was born in Fiji and moved to Auckland, New Zealand in 1957 to complete his schooling courtesy of a Fijian Government scholarship. He graduated from Auckland University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Architecture and for the last 54 years has worked as an architect designing over 400 buildings including some of New Zealand’s most celebrated houses.

He has gained a reputation as being one of New Zealand’s foremost patrons of the Arts accumulating a spectacular collection of important paintings, sculptures, prints, ceramics, glass and furniture. He championed the construction a Guy Ngan designed Millennium Tree for the Domain and an Olympic Sculpture for the 2008 Beijing games. In recent years he has encapsulated his love of the arts in a series of high-quality art books.

In 2000 he became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to architecture and the arts. He has also been a Trustee for the Treasury of NZ Craft Resources Trust Board, Foundation Trustee for the Dowse Foundation, Board Member for the Auckland Art Gallery, Co-chair of the Auckland Chinese Garden Steering Committee and Patron of the New Zealand Society of Potters.

This book documents this journey. It features an essay by Peter Shaw, recounting Ron’s early influences and the story of the Brake House which won the Inaugural NZIA 25 year Enduring Architects Award in 2001 and has been included in the Phaidon 20th Century World Architecture book which feature houses from each of the five continents.

 Contributions from Simon Carnachan, Brent Hulena and Graham Upton describe their experience working with Ron in the same office. Ron’s artistic endeavours are captured both in pictures of key works in his collection and a number of significant written contributions. A significant and insightful essay by Gregory O’Brien, reflects on Ron’s art publishing endeavours. Ben Plumbly, James Parkinson and Hamish Coney provide insights into Ron’s art collection. Eva Wong Ng offers an account of Ron’s childhood in Fiji.

This book feature over 400 images of Ron’s public life plus another 300 photographs from his private photo albums placed in context with extracts from his own comments.

It is a lasting visual statement of Ron Sang’s passions and an important record of a distinguished New Zealanders legacy.

James Macneil

Production & Design - Mei Ling Lee

Publisher - Ron Sang Publications

Essays from Gregory O’Brien, Eva Wong Ng Contributions: Ben Plumbly, James Parkinson, Hamish Coney, Karin Sang

305 x 310mm hardcover, 341 pages with French-fold jacket

Over 400 photographs from his public life,

300 photographs from his photo albums