Proceeds from our Model Citizens competition – in which teams from local design firms battled to create the most innovative model completely out of white Lego bricks – went towards purchasing custom Lego sets for local schools in need. Each team was allocated a school to compete for and, by and large, the teams have been delighted with bringing the sets to the kids and seeing their interest in design and construction.

A group from Athfield Architects was named winner on the night, taking home a prestigious trophy and a larger, more impressive Lego set to gift their school with. Though the team joked that they would have rather kept the Lego for themselves, Simon Wilson from Athfield’s said, “It was great fun taking the Lego to Dominion Road School and seeing the delight on the kids’ (and teachers!) faces – the presentation was held at the school assembly and we had a good insight to what the school is up to and how the Lego will assist their learning and play.”

Takapuna-based Respond Architects also took part in the event and Joe Lyth took their Lego set to Te Hura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Maungarongo school. Lyth noted that all the staff and students were extremely welcoming and thankful and that he got the opportunity to lead a Q&A session on being an architect with some of the older students.

Jasmax also brought along a group to compete and team member Clara Choi noted that the challenge was meaningful to her saying, “The Lego building in itself really brought back childhood memories and the infinite possibilities of building anything we wanted. We competed hard to win, not only to deliver the children Lego bricks, but to encourage them in their ability to be creative and build whatever they dream of.”

Fisher & Paykel partnered with ArchitectureNow and IMO to put on the Model Citizens event, but they also entered their own team of designers. Marketing manager Nicola Chan took a group along to drop off the Lego at Rosebank Primary school and said, “It was so rewarding. The kids were so excited; they each shared stories about what they build at home with their Lego. It was honestly so, so cute!”

Context Architects’ Soto Solis and Natalie Snowden took their prize down to Avondale Primary and were equally well received by a group of nine year-five students who were chosen for their early interest in design. With the students being so keenly interested in the profession, Context invited them down to their office to learn more and experience their VR studio.

They challenged the students with a design task of their own and gave them the opportunity to see it come to life. “You could see the excitement building on the students’ faces as they experienced their designs in full immersion. It’s much like when a client inhabits their unbuilt space for the first time,” said Snowden. Solis added, “The students showed a great deal of compassion and were really interested in our work designing social housing. The future is in good hands.”