{{Short description|New Zealand architect (1930–2014)}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} {{Infobox architect | name=Ivan Mercep | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=100%}} | image = Wellington Te Papa n.jpg | caption = Museum of New Zealand<br>Te Papa Tongarewa | birth_date= {{Birth date|1930|02|22|df=yes}} | birth_place= Taumarunui, New Zealand | death_date= {{Death date and age|2014|04|08|1930|02|22|df=yes}} | death_place=Auckland, New Zealand | spouse = Halina Eva Trusz | relatives = Simon Mercep (son) | alma_mater = University of Auckland | influences = | influenced= | practice = {{ubl|KRTA (1960–1963)|JASMaD (1963–1989)|Jasmax (1989–2014)}} | significant_buildings = {{ubl|Te Papa|Waikato Museum|Samoa House}} | significant_projects = | significant_design = | awards = NZIA Gold Medal (2008) }} '''Ivan Mercep''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=85%}} (22 February 1930 – 8 April 2014) was a New Zealand architect. He received the NZIA Gold Medal in 2008.
==Early life and family== Born in Taumarunui in 1930 to a Croatian family,<ref name="Scoop">{{cite news|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0805/S00253.htm|title=New Zealand's best new buildings recognised|date=25 May 2008|work=Scoop Independent News|accessdate=8 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10521099|title=Enduring legacy rewarded|date=12 July 2008|work=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=8 April 2014|first=Chris|last=Barton}}</ref> Mercep was educated at Sacred Heart College, Auckland<ref>{{cite news|url=http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~shc/confortare/confortare_may2004_screen.pdf|title=Updates|date=May 2004|work=Confortare|accessdate=8 April 2014|page=11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214137/http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~shc/confortare/confortare_may2004_screen.pdf|archive-date=8 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Auckland University College, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1954.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university17.html|title=NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Me–Mo|website=shadowsoftime.co.nz|accessdate=8 April 2014}}</ref> He married Halina Eva Trusz,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=halina-eva-mercep&pid=174368720 | title=Halina Mercep obituary | date=12 March 2015 | work=New Zealand Herald | accessdate=13 March 2015}}</ref> and one of their sons is broadcaster Simon Mercep.<ref name="Radio NZ">{{cite news|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/241113/te-papa-museum-architect-dies|title=Te Papa museum architect dies|date=8 April 2014|work=Radio New Zealand News|accessdate=8 April 2014}}</ref>
==Architectural practice== {{Expand section|date=April 2014}} Following university, Mercep spent six years working and travelling overseas, before returning to New Zealand in 1960. After working with KRTA, he entered into partnership in 1963 with Rodney Davies, Stephen Jelicich and Graham Smith to form what would become JASMaD (later Jasmax, one of the largest architectural firms in New Zealand).<ref name="Scoop"/> In 1964, he became a registered architect in New Zealand. He helped design Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland and Waipapa Marae at the University of Auckland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzrab.org.nz/Search/ArchitectDetail.aspx?r=419|title=Mr Ivan Mercep|date=2014|publisher=New Zealand Registered Architects Board|accessdate=8 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408212252/https://www.nzrab.org.nz/Search/ArchitectDetail.aspx?r=419|archive-date=8 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mercep was project architect for Samoa House / Maota Samoa on Auckland's Karangahape Road, designed to house the Samoan consulate-general, and completed in 1978. The building won a New Zealand Institute of Architects national award in 1980.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Gatley |editor-first=Julia |editor-link=Julia Gatley |title=Long live the modern |chapter=Samoa House/Maota Samoa |first=Lama |last=Tone |author-link=Lama Tone |publisher=Auckland University Press |year=2008 |isbn=9781869404154 |page=211}}</ref> <gallery> File:WaipapaMarae.jpg|Waipapa Marae, University of Auckland File:K Road 2016-01-22-4.jpg|Karangahape Road elevation of Samoa House (centre left) File:Polynesian Inspired Building Auckland.jpg|Beresford Square frontage of Samoa House </gallery>
==Honours and awards== In the 1997 Queen's Birthday Honours, Mercep was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to architecture.<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 1997|url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-1997 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |accessdate=16 July 2020}}</ref> He was awarded the gold medal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 2008.<ref name="Radio NZ"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercep, Ivan}} Category:1930 births Category:2014 deaths Category:People from Taumarunui Category:New Zealand people of Croatian descent Category:University of Auckland alumni Category:New Zealand architects Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit Category:Recipients of the NZIA Gold Medal
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