Here’s a great way to start a morning!

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.

Judi’s advice: “Don’t think of domestic architecture as less than commercial – they are equal.” Regardless of the work on your desk, she encouraged us all to do the work well and serve your clients well.

Connection was another theme of the conversation, with Judi’s sharing of her initial feelings when attending a recent builders’ conference. In typical Judi style, she began talking about the things we all have in common – family, children, houses – if you ever need to break the ice with a builder, try ‘have you built your own house?’.

Judi also talked about maintaining an architecture practice while being the primary parent. While it was challenging to continue to practice while parenting young children, her life is richer for it. She talked about the role models who came before her and issues that primary parents continue to face today.

Anecdotes from Judi’s early life enlivened the proceedings, with a highlight being a convincing and entertaining cameo by Jocelyn Keith, Judi’s mother.

Judi is president-elect of the NZIA and will take up the presidency in May 2020.

Breakfast with Judi Keith-Brown was organised by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and this review was provided by the NAWIC Wellington Committee.

Read more about the Festival of Architecture events here.