An architect with a passion for “designing experiences”, Naomi started her own studio three years ago with the idea of forming specially curated ‘collectives’ for a project. Her focus lies with integrating design across all the senses and her work is wide-ranging in scale and type, including workplace, hotel, retail and wellness, through to residential. Rushmer has been involved in many award-winning projects, working with Designworks, Blur the Lines, Studio Gascoigne, StudioPritchard and Buschow Henley in London. She was a recipient of the Interior Awards Retail award in 2021 for Comvita with Blur the Lines.

Tell us about one of your favourite interior spaces, either in Aotearoa or overseas, that has inspired you or your design thinking?

I’ve always admired the soaring five-storey-high ceiling and strong axis of the Turbine Hall at the Tate Gallery in London. It’s a hardworking space yet invokes such an emotional response – truly breathtaking. The raw interior sets a stage, a balance of context, light and theatre, and an anticipation of the changing performance and of magic within. It’s a space of storytelling and discovery, which always reminds me that the successful design is not just the built form, or the magic of pieces within it, but also how humans respond and engage with it.

I can’t not mention another favourite, the Rodin Museum in Paris. A space strong enough to hold the mesmerising creations of Auguste Rodin and to allow the details of human anatomy to absolutely shine. The low and high clerestory light seems to bring the sculptures alive, you almost expect one to wink.

If you could design an interior project for anyone, what would it be and why?

My dad was a bit of a legend – a GP who always advocated for the patient experience in medicine and always said “looking after each other” was the most important thing we could all do. I’d love to try and create what this feels and looks like. A fully sensorial environment to truly experience being looked after emotionally, physically and spiritually, and to recover during a vulnerable time. A space that helps create confidence to move forward with living your best life.

What are you looking forward to while judging the 2021 Interior Awards?

I look forward to being inspired by the storytelling beyond the images, to the theatre, the delight and surprise that great design collaboration brings. I’m also very much looking forward to the presentations and seeing the passion designers bring to their projects and clients.