Making Space celebrates the work of women architects in New Zealand

14 Sep 2022

From celebrating the work of Māori and Pacific women architects to the obstacles females have faced within the architectural industry, a new book honours those who have contributed to this field in Aotearoa.

Making Space comprises a detailed survey of New Zealand women architects, and is a driving force in bringing such specialists to light.

The publication covers the talented, dedicated and skilled women who enhanced Aotearoa’s  built environment, creativity and community.

Available from October 20, Making Space, will be published by Massey University Press.

It begins by telling the tale of the first woman known to have designed a building – which remains today -  in the 1840s through to Julie Stout becoming the first woman to win the New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal — its highest honour — this year.

Crafted by 30 prominent women architects, architectural historians and academics, Making Space’s captivating pages draw attention to hundreds of outstanding women, including many whose careers have, until now, been lost to the historical record.

Wellington-based historian Elizabeth Cox, who edited the book, says it has been a privilege to bring some of these women’s stories into the limelight.

‘These early women showed me that actually there were women working in the profession for many years, it was just that no one really knew,” she says. “I’m also especially proud of having three chapters written by Māori women and one by a woman from the Pacific showcasing the work of Māori and Pacific women architects in Aotearoa.’

Among its chapters, Making Space brings to light the hurdles women have faced, and continue to confront, and explains the determined strategies many have adopted to maintain a place in the profession.

‘The book is called Making Space because women were making physical spaces, while also making space for themselves within the profession,’ says Cox.

‘But a third meaning of the book became clear to me as I was working with the writers to put their chapters together — that the book itself was making a space for women to write and think about their profession and their experiences in it, and to have hundreds of conversations about architecture with their peers.’

On its pages, Making Spaces captures the read with over 400 photos and it mentions more than 500 women. Bold and daring, Making Space makes an outstanding celebration of our architectural and social history.

A+W NZ will host events to celebrate the launch of Making Spaces. [email protected]

Pre-order your copy now at www.masseypress.co.nz.

Published: 14 Sep 2022