What music are you likely to be listening to while selecting the finalists to the Interior Awards?

Federico Monsalve (FM): A bit of upbeat jazz to start with. Ark Ovrutski and Branford Marsalis have been on repeat recently. Something meditative for the categories that require the most concentration (AKA workplace).  Something loud and fast paced – like latin ska, Too Many Zoos or cheesy 90s hair metal – when I need a pick-me-up. Some pure, palate-cleansing silence during the breaks.

What has been a recent interior/architecture book you have enjoyed?

FM:  The Garage by Olivia Erlanger and Luis Ortega Govela (MIT Press). A typology driven book that was surprisingly fascinating. A “secret history of the garage” doesn’t immediately sound like a page-turner but it had the right balance between theory and history, suburban anthropology and pop culture to make it memorable. It’s a rather unique perspective on a seemingly ‘blah’ room.  

What is your favourite New Zealand commercial interior and why? 

FM: Tough question! For almost two decades now, and every time I am in Wellington, I find myself gravitating toward this secluded, Buddhist monastery just outside the city limits. It was designed by Tennent Brown back in the early 90s and there is a soothing simplicity to it. Materials, context, proportions… it all works beautifully and in tandem there.

What material do you think is under-represented in New Zealand interiors?

FM: In Auckland, I wish there was more, plain, good old-fashioned exposed brick interiors that properly take advantage of the local (ozone depleted) sunlight. There is inherent permanence and a textural history to brick that is often lacking in our young city’s interiors.

Can you give any advice to entrants of the 2019 Interior Awards?

FM: Don’t underestimate the power of a good photo to express those amazing design ideas you brought to the project. Be succinct and precise in your “design intent” section (a brief, to the point list is often more powerful than just one or two points explained in too much detail). Give us a glimpse of the creative flair and passion that sparked such an interior… honest enthusiasm goes a long way.

Enter your designs at interiorawards.co.nz. See the key dates for the programme here.