Architecture + Women New Zealand (A+W NZ) is a membership-based

professional organisation A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and the ...

of women in architecture in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. The organisation promotes diversity, inclusion and equity in architecture through events, membership, advocacy and publication. The group also runs the tri-annual

Architecture + Women NZ Dulux Awards The Architecture + Women NZ Dulux Awards is a tri-annual set of awards which recognise the contribution of women to the field of architecture in New Zealand. The awards recognise full bodies of work and community connections. The awards were first ...

History

The organisation was founded in 2011 by Lynda Simmons, Sarah Treadwell, Julie Wilson and Megan Rule. Simmons and Wilson were motivated by the large number of women leaving the architecture profession in New Zealand. Their core aims are visibility for members and to increase inclusiveness in the architectural profession by highlighting and addressing barriers. It was one of the 'recent advocacy groups for gender equity' and at the start was a website and database to promote diversity, inclusion and equity in architecture. In 2013

Elisapeta Heta Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta is a New Zealand Māori architect. She is affiliated to the Ngāti Wai and Waikato Tainui iwi (tribes). She also has Samoan and Tokelauan heritage. Heta was the recipient of a National Association of Women in Construction ...

joined. In 2013 the membership of A+W NZ was almost 1000 people. An awards programme was established in 2014 called the Architecture + Women NZ Dulux Awards.

Activities

In 2013 A+W NZ created an exhibition called ''Between Silos'' that was inspired by an exhibition 20 years prior called ''Constructive Agenda – 60 Years of Women in Architecture in New Zealand.'' ''Between Silos'' was written by Marianne Calvelo, with design by Joy Roxas and curated by Lynda Simmons. The exhibition was also presented by Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture and City Making in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

as part of their Open Christchurch programme which is an initiative of architectural historian Jessica Halliday. Part of the work of the group is advocacy and this includes creating submissions to Parliament on relevant legislation. There is also a Tātuhi/Drawing Architecture: Sarah Treadwell Archive. Each year, a drawing is chosen by Sarah Treadwell and her nominated team to be archived. Drawings archived include work by Lusitania Vete, Matthew Boyuan Cao, Devyani Sethi, Jonathan Morrish and Mikaela King. Drawings from the archive were exhibited at the Refinery Artspace,

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

in 2022 along with a ''A+W NZ Timeline'' exhibition''.'' Work of A+W NZ also includes regular newsletters to members and mentoring. The book ''Making Space: A History of New Zealand Women in Architecture'' (2022) edited by

Elizabeth Cox Elizabeth "Betty" Cox was an English stage actress of the seventeenth century. Life Her debut was in March 1671 when she acted Lydia in William Wycherley's '' Love in a Wood'', for the King's Company, based at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.Hi ...

was published by

Massey University Press Massey University ( mi, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa) is a university based in Palmerston North, Palmerston North, New Zealand, with significant campuses in Albany, New Zealand, Albany and Wellington. Massey University has approximately 30,883 stud ...

in association with Architecture + Women NZ.

Awards and recognition

In 2015, the organisation received a highly commended award in the Helen Tippett Award category at the National Association of Women in Construction (New Zealand) Excellence Awards. In 2022 Architecture + Women New Zealand was the inaugural winner of the 2022 John Sutherland Practice Award by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects to acknowledge their 'profound contribution' and that by removing barriers within architecture they were benefiting the profession as a whole.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Architecture + Women NZ Architecture in New Zealand 2011 establishments in New Zealand Architecture-related professional associations Professional associations based in New Zealand Feminism and the arts