Registered architect and urban designer Natasha Markham founded MAUD in 2015, a boutique studio specialising in well-crafted residential and commercial architecture, and offering urban design services to projects at all scales. While her architectural background includes a variety of projects, she has a particular interest in both bespoke residential and medium-density housing. Natasha is a chair for the Auckland Urban Design Panel and the Tauranga Urban Design Panel, and a co-host of 76 Small Rooms, a podcast about architecture in Aotearoa.

What’s one of your favourite interior spaces (either here in Aotearoa or overseas) that’s inspired you or your design thinking?

Natasha Markham (NM): I like projects that resonate at a number of levels and Hamer Hall in Melbourne (by Roy Grounds and John Truscott, refurbished by ARM) is a great example of this, engaging visitors both emotionally and intellectually.

From the moment you enter the lobby, the spatially dynamic and materially rich interior creates a sense of drama that’s fitting for a theatre venue. Finishes are both raw and sumptuous at the same time, with plush carpet, leather and gold leaf creating a satisfying contrast to the brutalist concrete structure.

The design also incorporates elements that reference local minerals and landscape. Bespoke lighting and contemporary detailing round out an interior which is uniquely Australian, offering visitors a connection to the national spirit as much as the performance itself.

If you could design an interior project for anyone, who would it be and why?

NM: I think there’s something deeply rewarding about creating spaces that can shape someone’s experience and mood. For me, that’s a consistent through line in all of our work. As someone who has always enjoyed travel, I’d love to apply this approach to an interiors project for travellers. When you’re away from home, you have a heightened awareness of spaces that create friction and those that work seamlessly, and that can really colour your experience of a place. The best experiences are typically those that also make you feel welcome and cared for, where you can appreciate both the thrill of discovery and the ease of home.

Who do you admire within the interior design industry and why?

NM: I really admire the way that Denmark has developed a culture where good design is embedded in everyday life rather than seen as a luxury add on. The Danes understand that good design is about problem solving in a way that is both functional and beautiful. In the 60’s the government there decided to support the design industry by using locally designed furniture in public buildings, signalling both the value of design to citizens, and that the citizens themselves were valued. Sixty years on, design led thinking permeates Danish culture and the design industry is a significant contributor to the economy. Plus… SO many good chairs!

What trends do you think we might see this year?

NM: A focus on details.

What are you looking forward to while judging the 2025 Interior Awards?

NM: I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing a variety of perspectives from Aotearoa designers. Our design industry continues to evolve and there’s a richness of ideas emerging with greater confidence about our place in the world.

What key piece of advice would you give to those thinking of entering the awards?

NM: The Interiors Awards are one of the few awards programmes where designers get to present and explain their thinking and process, so I’d encourage anyone who’s considering entering to give it a go.

Click here for more on the Interior Awards and here to submit your projects to the 2025 Interior Awards before Wednesday 30 April.