Tips & Ideas

The last, but not least, region to announce their Local Awards winners saw the Auckland branch of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects honour projects that included sustainable developments, social housing, old and new homes and many more.

Thirty projects from across Aotearoa have been shortlisted for this year’s Interior Awards across nine categories, from futuristic workplaces to heartwarming kitchens and much more. Interior editor of Architecture NZ and convenor of the jury Amanda Harkness said, “True to form, we received an incredibly wide range of projects this year and, in some categories, the calibre of entries was so high it was a real challenge for the jury to choose just three finalists.” Close scores resulted in four finalists in some categories.

Joe Lyth, an architect at Auckland-based firm Respond Architects, takes his own newly-built home as a case study on creating warm, dry homes. In light of his findings, he explores some of the cultural, economic and practical reasons why the health of a home isn't always a priority in new builds in New Zealand.

Partner content: Designer Meg Sinclair discusses the origin and process behind the development of homewares brand Weave by Warwick Fabrics. Focused on natural fibres, the range of floor rugs, wool throws and cushions have both residential and commercial applications.

Senior interior designer at Warren and Mahoney, Gabrielle Gatt, is a specialist in workplace strategy and design. She recently completed a graduate diploma in psychology focusing on organisational psychology, including workplace experience and wellbeing outcomes in unassigned workplaces.

While another recent book about Christchurch architecture, I Never Met a Straight Line I Didn’t Like, reveals what is inaccessible to the public eye, John Walsh’s Christchurch Architecture: A Walking Guide is a tour of buildings that can be seen and, mostly, entered from the footpath. With a focus on the centre bordered by the ‘Four Avenues’ (Bealey, Fitzgerald, Moorhouse and Deans), as well as the Ilam Campus of the University of Canterbury, significant buildings have been chosen and masterfully divided into six walking routes alongside colour-coded maps. This book is for any wanderer of Christchurch, whether familiar or unfamiliar with the streets.

There is a saying that kitchen is the heart of a home. As we are spending more time at home, this statement gets even truer. While food is what nourishes our body and soul, kitchen is where we prepare them. But as our lifestyle evolves with time, the function of kitchen fuses to be an integral part of living space.

Of course, there is no universal design to guarantee the quality of life of its residents. Numerous strategies and techniques have been used to design adaptable living environment according to the climate, lifestyle, available technology and demographic location. However, if the following key factors are considered and integrated into project designs, healthy living can be achieved.

Senior interior designer at Warren and Mahoney, Gabrielle Gatt, is a specialist in workplace strategy and design. She recently completed a graduate diploma in psychology focusing on organisational psychology, including workplace experience and wellbeing outcomes in unassigned workplaces.

When we think of health professionals, we consider doctors, nurses and psychologists. In the global quest for better understanding community health, design professionals have been plunged into the sphere of health and wellbeing.