A+W•NZ Dulux Awards
The A+W•NZ Dulux Awards have three award categories,
the Chrystall Excellence Award - celebrating the full and rich career of a female in the field of architecture
the Munro Diversity Award - celebrating those who work hard to support diversity in the field of architecture
the Wirihana Leadership Award - celebrating a developing career for females in their second decade after graduation
General aims of the A+W•NZ Dulux Awards Programme:
1. Strengthening Networks:
The awards are by nomination, with the aim of fostering a generous sense of collegiality among the architectural community. The act of nomination is an important aspect in this process and the generosity of the nominator forms part of the recognition.
Self-nomination is also encouraged, in an effort to combat the idea of 'kiwi modesty', which keeps so many hidden from view.
The recognition of excellent architecture is often concentrated into awarding individuals only, however these awards are also open to the nomination of collectives and practices.
2. Keeping Awards Inclusive:
To ensure the awards remain inclusive, they are structured to minimize the cost and time commitments that are so often a barrier to award entries. The awards are simple and free, with no fees, no formatting requirements and no printing costs.
The nomination process also means that the awards are inclusive of male colleagues and friends, who become part of the awards process. One award of the three is not excluded to female entrants only.
3. Maintaining Visibility:
Architecture+Women•NZ simply shines the spotlight on women working in the field of architecture, because it so often misses them.
- For Specific Aims of each Award category, see the Awards Categories (Menu Bar on this page).
- For the reasons behind the naming of each award category, refer below (this page).
- For more information on the philosophy behaind the A+W NZ Dulux Awards programme, refer Filling The Gaps, by Lynda Simmons.
A+W•NZ DULUX AWARDS PROCESS
Process:
- Entries are by nomination or self-nomination, made via the Nominations page on this website. If there are any issues, please email architecturewomen@gmail.com.
- Nominees are notified of their entry into an award category. Any additional information required is collected from nominee/nominator by the A+W•NZ Dulux Awards 2020 team.
- The Jury select Five Finalists from all nominations in each category, all who are celebrated at the A+W•NZ Dulux Awards 2020 Dinner Function, to be held on Saturday 22 August 2020, 7:30pm, in Christchurch.
- From these Five Finalists, one Winner in each category is selected and is announced at the Awards Dinner. Each Finalist receives a certificate, and each Winner receives a beautiful cast glass sculpture made by Ainsley O'Connell.
The A+W•NZ Dulux Awards support both of the two main aims of this non-profit organisation: visibility and inclusiveness. We are committed to removing as many barriers as possible for as many people as possible, and the awards are structured to lessen the usual reasons that awards are not entered by those active in the field of architecture.
How are the A+W•NZ Dulux Awards different from the many other (excellent) awards programmes?
- Entry to the A+W•NZ Dulux Awards is via nominiation or self-nomination - this circumvents the typical 'modesty' barrier which often prevents entries to awards, as well as providing opportunities to be generous to our peers, mentors and colleagues.
- Entry is free
- The workload associated with awards entries is lessened via the nomination process and online entry
- The A+W•NZ Dulux Awards celebrate 'bodies of work', rather than single architectural objects
- Eligibility includes groups as well as individuals
- The A+W•NZ Dulux Awards are held triennially, not annually.
A+W•NZ DULUX AWARDS PUBLICATIONS
A+W NZ Dulux Awards 2020
Publication accompanied the A+W NZ Dulux Awards 2020 event, which was held online (and recorded) on 15 August 2020
Published by A+W NZ, Auckland. Design by Catherine Griffiths Studio, Printed by CMYK
Copies of the 2020 Awards publication are available to be purchased.
A+W NZ Dulux Awards 2017
Publication accompanied A+W NZ Dulux Awards 2017 event, held August 2017.
Published by A+W NZ and Aalto Books, Auckland. Design by Catherine Griffiths Studio, Printed by CMYK
Copies of the 2017 Awards publication are available to be purchased - email us at info@architecture.co.nz
2014 A+W NZ Awards 2014
Publication accompanied inaugural A+W NZ Awards event, September 2014.
Published by A+W NZ and Aalto Books, Auckland. Design by Catherine Griffiths Studio, Printed by Index
Copies of the 2014 Awards publication are no longer available (Original publication and re-print have sold out).
NAMING OF THE A+W•NZ DULUX AWARDS CATEGORIES
The Awards are named for women who have had a considerable influence on New Zealand architecture;
Moana Wirihana, for whom the Leadership Award is named, was a respected community leader who contributed to architecture through her involvement in several significant whare nui and community projects.
From 1986 until 1992, Sarah Treadwell ran a course at the Architecture School at The University of Auckland titled Women and Architecture. The course was designed to build awareness of contemporary and past women involved in architecture, initially worldwide and in the later years with a focus on New Zealand. The seminar course ensured that each piece of research contributed to collective knowledge around a growing history of New Zealand women architects, and these projects have become an interesting and valuable source of information for researchers today.
One project in 1987, by Saul Roberts, was a transcript of an interview with Moana Wirihana, a kuia connected to his whanau. While Wirihana was not an architect, Saul presented a compelling argument for her inclusion in the field of this Women and Architecture study, effectively writing Maori women, not only her, into our history of architecture. He described how her influence, respected opinion and strong leadership had been wide-ranging in the design and construction of several whare nui, especially relevant to New Zealand’s history. This award pays homage to Moana Wirihana by naming the Emerging Leadership Award after her, and in doing so respectfully reveals an entire thread of history that is consistently omitted from the canon of New Zealand architecture.
The naming of this award also acknowledges the huge and positive impact that Sarah Treadwell has had on our emerging leaders through her role in the education of our future architects and thinkers.
Margaret Munro, for whom the Diversity Award is named, had a long and distinguished career as an architect in Christchurch.
Margaret Munro’s life-long career in architecture began with a passing comment of one of her childhood drawings. The admirer was Christchurch architect Cecil Wood who provided Munro with her first place of employment, where she worked her way up from general office dogsbody to doing fine planning and detailing of his designs, alongside architects Paul Pascoe, Gerald Bucknell and Robert (Bob) Munro, whom she later married. It was the 1930’s and Munro was dissuaded against entering into formal architectural studies. “Cecil was a man who thought girls should have a lovely social life and look pretty. He felt I would be wasting the best years of my life if I bothered about exams”. Munro instead complimented her work in Wood’s office with classes at the Canterbury College School of Fine Arts, later becoming secretary of the Architectural Students Association. In 1945, Bob and Margaret left Wood’s practice, setting up in partnership. While their work was collaborative, Bob was the qualified architect so the practice and designs went under his name. Following Bob’s death in 1959 Margaret was encouraged to apply to the NZIA for registration and in 1960, after 29 years in the profession, Margaret Munro was finally able to call herself an architect. Munro continued to practice up until her retirement in 1975. “I set up as Mrs Margaret S. Munro ANZIA, with the Mrs in very small print”. Her reputation for a traditional approach to design, reliability, and attention to detail ensured steady commissions. Her work includes the cricket pavilion and Burnett Block at St Andrew’s College, the McSkimming Industries office building on Tuam St and many houses. “Once you are an architect, I don’t think you ever stop being one.”
Lillian Chrystall, who has lent her name to the Excellence Award, practiced architecture continuously for 60 years, initially in London and Paris, and in Auckland from the 1950s to 2012.
A graduate of Architecture from the University College of Auckland and Fellow of the NZIA, Lillian has practiced almost continuously for six decades while bringing up three children alongside her architect husband and partner in practice, David Chrystall. Following graduation in 1948, Lillian worked for a brief period in Wellington before a return to Auckland to teach second year as part of Vernon Brown’s studio – the first woman on the teaching staff. Two years later she travelled to Europe, working first with Hungarian Erno Goldfinger, mostly on post-war reconstruction work in London followed by a position with Andre Sive in Paris. Lillian returned to New Zealand in her late twenties, immediately starting her own practice, Lillian Laidlaw Architect. Her first employee being David Chrystall who she later married, setting up partnership Chrystall Architects in 1958. Their house on Airedale Street was a short five minute walk from their Symonds Street studio and became a gathering place for a lively clan of architects. David Mitchell, then a second year architecture student, answered their ad for a babysitter and ended up working in the office - “the scene around their dining table was a real blast”. Her partnership with David was a successful one. Chrystall Architects work ranged across commercial, education and residential with Lillian gaining an NZIA National Bronze Medal for the Yock House, Remuera in 1967. “The house is a brilliant essay in assured simplicity. It succeeds without affectation, but with tremendous subtlety and sensitivity… direct and elegant detailing in NZ terms.. A difficult site intertwined to advantage by form and placing of the house and superbly controlled landscaping”. In the 1980’s, after 25 years working together, Lillian commented “Had we worked on the same designs it would have been intolerable. But we didn’t. We each have our own work”. As a long time city dweller, Lillian has been an urban advocate along with Bill Wilson & Co. for pedestrian friendly space in Kartoum Place and Vulcan Lane. While a reluctant star, Lillian has undoubtedly generated a significant body of work, influenced many and contributed to the NZIA and city environment in a both a pragmatic and uncontroversial manner. With her retirement in 2012, following a 64 year career Lillian is one of New Zealand’s most enduring and talented practitioners. In conversation with Lindley Naismith in 2004, Lillian said her greatest reward is still to be found in a client’s expression of pleasure, sometimes many years later, in what she has done. “It’s still exciting to come to work every Monday and I regret going home at weekends to clean the house”.
A+W•NZ DULUX AWARDS DINNER EVENTS
A+W•NZ DULUX AWARDS 2017 - Awards Dinner held on 26 August 2017, 7:00pm.
A+W•NZ AWARDS 2014 - Awards Dinner held on 27 September 2014, 7:30pm.
Listed below are the A+W•NZ members excluded from entry to the A+W•NZ Awards 2014:
Core A+W•NZ Award sub-committee:
- Julie Wilson
- Aimee Lee
- Elisapeta Heta
- Sarah Treadwell
- Megan Rule
- Lynda Simmons
Other A+W•NZ sub-committee roles:
- Courtney Kitchen
- Fritha Hobbs
- Charissa Snijders
A+W•NZ Incorporated Society members:
- Megan Rule
- Lynda Simmons
- Sarah Treadwell
- Julie Wilson
- Nicole Stock
- Lindley Naismith
- Elisapeta Heta
- Kathy Waghorn
- Christina Van Bohemen
- Ainsley O'Connell
- Jane Aimer
- Raukura Turei
- Wendy Shacklock
- Sara Lee
- Linda Tyler
Below is a list of A+W•NZ members who are NOT elligible for the 2017 A+W•NZ Dulux Awards, due to current or past involvement with the Incorporated Society which may be perceived as a conflict of interest (note that some may become eligible in 2020, after 'standing down' for at least one award cycle);
Lynda Simmons
Elisapeta Heta
Nicole Allan
Divya Purushotham
Anner Chong
Sukshma Paranjpe
Kitty Fan
Rebecca Green
Lauren Speer
Hannah Sharp
Megan Rule
Julie Wilson
Christina van Bohemen
Ainsley O'Connell
Marianne Calvelo
Peggy Russell
Ariana Pia
Kirsty Jones
Bridget Lensen
Emily Batchelor
Siran Li
Jane Rooney
Chloe Coles
Brita Corbett
Anne Salmond
Kathy Waghorn
Raukura Turei
