Image by Keisha Rawiri of Tau Henare marae
Unitec School of Architecture ākonga were featured as finalists, with Keisha Rawiri awarded Highly Commended, in the 2022 Te Kāhui Whaihanga Resene Student Design Awards held by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.
The programme brings together the top ākonga from each of New Zealand’s four schools of architecture: Waipapa Taumata Rau — University of Auckland, Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka — Unitec Institute of Technology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau — Auckland University of Technology.
On Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December, the top architecture students from around Aotearoa New Zealand gathered at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington to present their final-year projects to a panel of three highly-experienced judges. This year’s jury featured Dr Louise Wright (architect at Melbourne-based Baracco+Wright Architects), Judith Taylor (associate at Context Architects and Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects’ President) and Jacob Scott (cultural designer and member of Ngā Aho, the network of Māori design professionals).
Individually or as a group, fifth-year students presented their projects. The jury assessed each work and determined the top students of architecture in New Zealand. The winner receives a $5,000 prize plus a book voucher and two highly commended prizes are also awarded.
Congratulations to all the ākonga for this well-deserved recognition of their awesome mahi.
Read about their projects below
Highly Commended
Keisha Rawiri was a Highly Commended for her project ‘An architectural response to future-proofing Tau Henare marae and upholding the mana of Ngā Tau e Toru whare tawhito’.
Finalists
Alyssa Haley was a finalist for her project ‘Nuts and Bolts: Empowering Communities Through Making’.
Ciarán O’Neill was a finalist for his project ‘A Home For Your Worst Days, The Architecture of Substance Rehabilitation’.
Joe Yue Sun was a finalist for his project ‘福鼎上河图 A Day Along the River, Creating a Fuding in the Image of the Greatest Chinese Painting’.