This year’s Festival of Architecure is in full swing, and there are events happening through the weekend. Check back on ArchitectureNow for rolling coverage of events and images from across the country, and visit festivalofarchitecture.nz to see how you can get involved this weekend in your region.

The Auckland portion of the 10-day festival, put on by the New Zealand Institute of Architects in cities across Aotearoa, began on 20 September with the opening of the Making Ways exhibition at Objectspace. Here, Festival director Tony Van Raat reminded us of the raison d’être behind the Festival of Architecture: to engage the public with the industry. He noted that in order for us to create great architecture, clients and the public must demand the best, and in order for that to happen, they must know what the best is. So, part of the Festival’s mission is to bring good design to the world.

Also kicking off the Festival on the 20th was World [PARK]ing Day. Urban parking spots in Auckland’s CBD and Devonport, Tauranga and Bay of Plenty were taken over by design firms and reimagined as public recreation spaces. Find out more about how Tauranga got on with World [PARK]ing Day here.

Jewellery as an architectural space – Auckland

One of the first events of this year’s festival was the opening of architectural graduate Gina Hochstein’s exhibition on Friday 20 September, Jewellery as an architectural space. Held in upmarket clothing store Knuefermann in Auckland’s Kauri Timber Building, the exhibition showcases Hochstein’s thesis work, in which she translated a series of modernist houses in Titirangi into intricate pieces of architectonic jewellery.

Her designs, rendered in silver, bronze and brass and displayed on faceted cardboard models created by artist Horst Kiechle, highlight a connection between landscape and body, and dwelling and jewellery. North and south elevations are transformed into earrings, bridge-connected Brake House pavilions become a two-finger ring and pilotis act to anchor a brooch, as part of a series of compelling creations which saw Hochstein receive the Head of School Award for Architecture.

The exhibition is open until this Saturday, 28 September (from 10am – 6pm) and is well worth a visit.

Serious about Seville exhibition – Auckland

This University of Auckland exhibit is titled Serious about Seville. It was curated by Michael Milojevic who, in April 2019, led a study tour of 65 students to Spain and Morocco. They spent two weeks at Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Sevilla (Higher Technical School of Architecture of Seville). The Spanish city provided the sites for design studio topics at second- and third-year Bachelors levels and first-year Masters level. The exhibition comprises drawings and models produced by the students who participated in the study tour. The second-year students designed housing that engaged with city life in the historic Feria district; the third years designed inhabitable bridges; and the Masters students designed civic buildings for the city’s riverside. It is an evocative collection of drawings and models that will transport you to southern Spain, at least for a moment.

The exhibition is on display in the Mason Bros Laneway in Pakenham Street until 28 September.  

Straw into Gold exhibition – Auckland

Unitec’s Straw into Gold project, currently on display in the Warren and Mahoney Laneway as part of the NZIA Festival of Architecture, is shining the spotlight on climate change and better building practices through its creation of a straw bale house.

A one-third scale model of a small habitable structure, Straw into Gold shows the possibilities of the construction method and opens up discussions about local circular economies, community empowerment and the need for a holistic approach to architecture that acknowledges the idea that resources are crucial and need to be conserved.    

Read a full review of the exhibition here, and see the exhibition until Saturday, 28 September.

Breakfast with Judi Keith-Brown – Wellington

Judi Keith-Brown shared her life shaped through a rich career in architecture over a breakfast talk as part of the Festival of Architecture in Wellington. She shared stories of educators and travel in early life that inspired and shaped her as well as the importance of community and connection. 

Judi contrasted high profile, high budget commercial projects with small practice and domestic architecture.  She posed the question: ‘What is success?’ Is success about the numbers or the relationships? Judi talked about her recent experience as a Local Awards judge, and how the relationship between the client and architect in one particular job, the Cambie-Williams House, stood out as an exemplar where the close relationship and the trust present gave depth and detail to meet a challenging brief.

Click here to read a full review from the organisers of the event, the National Association of Women in Construction.