Five proposals have been shortlisted for the 2026 F. Gordon Wilson Fellowship

From 21 proposals, the jury has shortlisted five projects to be considered as this year's F. Gordon Wilson Fellowship recipient. 

The shortlisted candidates will present their ideas to the jury in August, with the recipient(s) to be announced on Tuesday 8 September at the in:situ 2026 + CAA General Assembly Gala Dinner. 

Discover each of the shortlisted proposals:  

Block by Block: A Hyperlocal Model for Coordinated Urbanism by In The Making

Campbell McNeill and Oliver Mammitzsch

Our current lot-by-lot approach to intensification often struggles to deliver high-quality residential built forms, resulting in developments that sacrifice communal amenity and neighbour privacy. Block by Block proposes an equitable model based on Japanese land readjustment (tochi kukaku seiri). By simulating community-led "land swaps" in North Dunedin, this research explores how pooling fragmented plots can replace zero-sum densification with reciprocal value. This approach unlocks space for shared infrastructure, like pedestrian laneways and corner anchors, while ensuring every owner receives a high-value building site within a coordinated, "built envelope" urban fabric. 

Designed to Change by KOGG

Kaia McHardie, Olivia Cooper, Georgia Worters and Guy Marriage

Designed to Change proposes a two-phase housing system that bridges the gap between affordability and quality in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Shell provides a high-quality home with essential structure, services, and amenities at an affordable entry cost. Accompanying each Shell is a Pattern Book that guides safe, high-quality adaptation through prefabricated additions and clear design principles. Together, the system enables homes to evolve with changing needs while maintaining structural integrity, weatherproofing, and architectural quality, empowering residents to actively shape their homes over time. 

D.I.Y. Density by Spacecraft Architects

Caro Robertson and Tim Gittos

D.I.Y. Density: making it easier for everyday people to build quality medium-density housing. A pre-consented, modular three-storey walk-up to cut through the cost and uncertainty of development, so owner-developers, co-housing groups, iwi, or community organisations can take on projects themselves. The result is affordable, delightful neighbourhoods that make better use of land and put residents first.  

Plug and Play: A Lifetime Housing System by Euan Mac Kellar

Plug and Play: A Lifetime Housing System explores how adaptable homes, progressive ownership models and community-centred neighbourhoods could transform housing affordability in New Zealand. By rethinking the relationship between design, finance, community and land ownership, the research aims to create practical solutions that enable homes to grow, adapt and potentially contract on a single site. Could land ownership be shifted from owning a plot of land to co-owning a community and its amenities? Instead of buying a house and site, this would allow people to remain connected to their neighbourhood and community throughout every stage of life. 

Plug-in Aotearoa by TDCG

Shreel Amrite, Leticia Silva and Joyee Kwan

Plug-in Aotearoa is an open-source housing platform for New Zealand — a universal connection standard that lets homes grow, shrink, and relocate as life changes. Pre-consented designs live in a shared digital library anyone can build from. Rooted in New Zealand's multigenerational living traditions and DIY culture, and validated by the international shift toward modular construction standards, it is a platform the profession, communities, and government build from together. 

Members of the Jury

• Julia Mandell — Jury Chair: AIA; Design Director, Wilson Associates; representative of F. Gordon Wilson’s family

• Dr Kay Saville-Smith: Chief Science Advisor for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Research Director, Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment

• Professor Peter McPherson: Head of School, School of Architecture, Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka Unitec

• Marko den Breems: Chief Executive Officer, Isthmus

• Brian Donnelly, ONZM: Director; affordable housing specialist

• Huia Reriti: Immediate Past Perehitini / President, Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects

• James Blackburne: President, Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects