Architecture + Women NZ

Architecture + Women New Zealand (A+W NZ) is a membership-based professional organisation of women in architecture in New Zealand. 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.

History
Lynda Simmons

The organisation was founded in 2011 by Lynda Simmons, Julie Wilson and Megan Rule.[1] Simmons and Wilson were motivated due to the large number of women leaving the architecture profession in New Zealand.[2] 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.[3][4] In 2013 Elisapeta Heta joined.[5]

In 2013 the membership of A+W NZ was almost 1000 people.[4]

An awards programme was established in 2014 called the Architecture + Women NZ Dulux Awards.[6]

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' since starting and that by removing barriers within architecture they are benefiting the profession as a whole.[5]

Activities
Photograph of the A+W NZ Timeline Exhibition, on display at Open Christchurch May 2022.

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.[4] 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 as part of their Open Christchurch programme.[7]

Part of the work of the group is advocacy and this includes creating submissions to Parliament on relevant legislation.[4] There is also a Tatuhi Drawing Archive, newsletters and mentoring.[3]

The book Making Space: A History of New Zealand Women in Architecture (2022) edited by Elizabeth Cox was published by Massey University Press in association with Architecture + Women NZ.[8]

References
  1. "2022 John Sutherland Award winner: Architecture+Women•NZ". Architecture Now. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  2. homestyle magazine (1 August 2020). "Women in architecture: Let's get visible". homestyle magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. Susie (26 July 2021). "Architecture + Women NZ". Parlour. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  4. "Home | Architecture + Women NZ". architecturewomen.org.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. "2022 John Sutherland Award winner: Architecture+Women•NZ". Architecture Now. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. "Filling the gaps". Parlour. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  7. "A+W•NZ Timeline: Architecture + women exhibition". Open Christchurch. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  8. Making space : a history of New Zealand women in architecture. Elizabeth Cox, Massey University, A+W.NZ. Auckland, New Zealand. 2022. ISBN 978-1-991016-34-8. OCLC 1347021085.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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