“Uplifting and empowering”: Interior Awards 2021 Emerging Design Professional

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Elisapeta Heta of Jasmax was named this year's Emerging Design Professional at the Interior Awards. — Elisapeta Heta of Jasmax was named this year’s Emerging Design Professional at the Interior Awards.

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Heta's project involvement includes the Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiōrea Redevelopment. — Heta’s project involvement includes the Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiōrea Redevelopment. Image: Dennis Radermacher

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The Western Springs College project won the Ted McCoy Award for Education at the 2020 New Zealand Architecture Awards. Image: Dennis Radermacher

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Recently Heta worked on the <em>Pouwātū: Active Presence</em> exhibition at Objectspace with John Miller. — Recently Heta worked on the *Pouwātū: Active Presence* exhibition at Objectspace with John Miller. Image: Sam Hartnett

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<em>Pouwātū</em> was housed within a setting that references the architecture of the wharenui. — *Pouwātū* was housed within a setting that references the architecture of the wharenui. Image: Sam Hartnett

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Heta has also been involved in Jasmax's design of the New Zealand Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. — Heta has also been involved in Jasmax’s design of the New Zealand Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Image: Jasmax

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A founding member of the firm’s cultural advisory group Waka Māia, Elisapeta Heta of Jasmax impressed this year’s Interior Awards jury with her collaborative design approach, earning her the title of the 2021 Emerging Design Professional. The category winner also took home the $1500 cash prize at the Awards event.

Heta is widely involved in the architecture and design industry, having served as the Ngā Aho representative on the Council of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects and recently working with photographer John Miller on the Pouwātū exhibition at Objectspace to name just a few of her accomplishments.

She was also involved in the Western Springs College Ngā Puna o Waiōrea Redevelopment, which won the Ted McCoy Award for Education at the 2020 New Zealand Architecture Awards.

Full jury citation:

Elisapeta is a natural leader in our industry, championing tikanga Māori and a collaborative design approach that is generous in spirit. Her work has enriched both the culture of the office at Jasmax and the cultural credibility of its projects. She has brought her skills, thoughts, philosophy and personality to Waka Māia (Jasmax’s bicultural design and advisory team), maintaining and developing her design thinking while enhancing the work of the practice. Elisapeta has co-chaired and acted as secretary for Architecture+Women.NZ and was co-opted as Ngā Aho representative to Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA. Her ambition is to continue to co-design authentic, identity-enhancing spaces that whakamana (uplift and empower) all who interact with them.