2022 Writing Awards

Cover Banner

An Overview

The 2022 Warren Trust Writing Awards received a high-quality collection of entries from all our writers. Using the theme “What does architecture mean to you?” we were impressed by the ranges of subject matter and writing styles the writers chose, from moving pieces in te reo Māori and English to poems and graphic novels.

So it is a pleasure to welcome the return of our book of winning and highly commended entries as a record of the quality of the writing and to inspire others to enter the awards.

The Warren Trust Awards for Architectural Writing were established in 2015 by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects with the support of The Warren Trust. The entries were judged by Pacific scholar Dr Karamia Müller, journalist Alex Casey and independent writer, curator and educator Cameron Ah Loo-Matamua.

The winning and highly commended entries were described by the judges in many terms, but the ones that stood out included extraordinary, startling and captivating. 

The 2022 awards were even more poignant given the of passing Sir Miles Warren. Sir Miles’s career spanned decades and will leave a lasting impact on architecture in Aotearoa New Zealand for centuries to come. Sir Miles retired in 1995 but remained active as an advocate for architectural education and a patron of the arts. The Warren Trust was established in 2006 and over the last decade has given more than $1.4 million to promote architectural education to both the architectural profession and the wider public in New Zealand.

Thanks to all the writers who took the time to enter, and sincere thanks to The Warren Trust for their continued support of this popular and inspiring initiative.

Related content

2022 Winners

Open category Winner

Open category Winner

The Creation of Space by Nga Wharerangi Turnbull

The Creation of Space

Rangatahi Winner

Rangatahi Winner

What Does Architecture Mean to Me? by William Dickson

What Does Architecture Mean to Me?

Tamariki Winner

Tamariki Winner

What Architecture Means to Me by Beau Te Orite Maiti

What Architecture Means to Me

Open category Highly Commended

Open category Highly Commended

The House That Isn't Ours by Mikayla Exton

The House That Isn't Ours

Open category Highly Commended

Open category Highly Commended

Hoa Mahi: Speaking New Worlds into Being by Abigail Temby Spence

Hoa Mahi: Speaking New Worlds into Being

Open category Highly Commended

Open category Highly Commended

As Part of Myself by Celia Mahon-Heap

As Part of Myself

Rangitahi Highly Commended

Rangitahi Highly Commended

Scavenger Hunt by Evana Chan

Scavenger Hunt

Rangitahi Highly Commended

Rangitahi Highly Commended

It Becomes Us by Elizabeth Kuschel-Young

It Becomes Us

Rangitahi Highly Commended

Rangitahi Highly Commended

The Storybook by Abbie Mackay

The Storybook

Tamariki Highly Commended

Tamariki Highly Commended

Poem of Architecture by Harry Inglis

Poem of Architecture

Tamariki Highly Commended

Tamariki Highly Commended

The Christchurch Cathedral by Matilda Grainger

The Christchurch Cathedral

Tamariki Highly Commended

Tamariki Highly Commended

A Warm Welcome by Camila Puricelli Callau

A Warm Welcome

Search