Q&A: Patrick Loo

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Loo with his $1,000 cash prize and trophy at the Interior Awards evening. Image: Duncan Innes

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Lineage store, Britomart, by Jasmax.

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Stairway Cinema project by Oh.No.Sumo.

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Cupcake Pavillion by Oh.No.Sumo.

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The Sir Paul Reeves Building by Jasmax.

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ArchitectureNow chats with 2013 Emerging Design Professional award winner ahead of this year's Interior Awards.

Architectural graduate Patrick Loo was the winner of the Emerging Design Professional category of the Interior Awards in 2013 and received high praise from the jury for his work with Jasmax, and additional self-directed projects done in collaboration with the experiential design collective of Oh.No.Sumo.

Jasmax architectural graduate Patrick Loo.

The Emerging Design Professional category celebrates bright young talent in the world of New Zealand architecture and design.

ArchitectureNow: What have you been working on since we last caught up?

Patrick Loo: At Jasmax I’ve been working on a small office building in the Bay of Plenty and an extension for a hotel. I have also been developing an interactive artwork with a focus on young children in CBD public space with Sarosh Mulla & Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh.

ANow: How has the award win affected your work?

PL: Receiving the award has had a really positive effect, with the exposure being fantastic. I’ve been surprised at how many people have heard about the Interior Awards and talked to me about it.

ANow: What was your experience of taking part in the Interior Awards, and what did you think about the live presentation part?

PL: The whole process was less scary than I thought it would be. To me it was more like a conversation with the judges rather than a presentation. It allows you to express who you are and what’s important to you in a comfortable way.

ANow: What would you say to your peers who are thinking about entering the Interior Awards in 2014?

PL: I think everyone should go for it! I’m very grateful to Jasmax for entering me, as I wouldn’t have had the confidence to enter myself. Because of this I really encourage all workplaces to push and support their staff to submit work into the programme. Aside from the outcome, the whole process is really useful, as it makes you reflect on the work you have done over the last few years and helps you to understand what you want from the future.

ANow: Where do you keep your trophy and what did you spend the prize money on?

PL: The trophy is in my apartment on a top shelf above another treasured possession, my CD collection. And I spent the prize money on a much needed camera to record the summer with!