Model Citizens 2023 highlights

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Congrats to this year's winning team from SANNZ. Pictured from left: Sahil Tiku, Adam Collett, Cecelia Kuang, Rohan Sadhu and Evana Chan.

Congrats to this year’s winning team from SANNZ. Pictured from left: Sahil Tiku, Adam Collett, Cecelia Kuang, Rohan Sadhu and Evana Chan. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The winning team from SANNZ with Kada’s Vitra toolbox prize and the Model Citizens trophy. From left: Evana Chan, Adam Collett, Cecelia Kuang, Amanda Greenslade (Resene representative), Rohan Sadhu and Sahil Tiku.

The winning team from SANNZ with Kada’s Vitra toolbox prize and the Model Citizens trophy. From left: Evana Chan, Adam Collett, Cecelia Kuang, Amanda Greenslade (Resene representative), Rohan Sadhu and Sahil Tiku. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Resene supplied materials and drawdowns for the teams, as well as generously sponsoring the team from SANNZ.

Resene supplied materials and drawdowns for the teams, as well as generously sponsoring the team from SANNZ. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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In line with the event’s zero-waste aims, Laminex supplied custom-slotted shapes out of Seratone off-cuts that could be configured in multiple ways.

In line with the event’s zero-waste aims, Laminex supplied custom-slotted shapes out of Seratone off-cuts that could be configured in multiple ways. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from Ignite looking slick in black. From left: Ryan Quach, Stuart McKechnie,
Gerry Terrell, Fabian Leclercq, Friedrich Strey and Shirley Croft.

The team from Ignite looking slick in black. From left: Ryan Quach, Stuart McKechnie, Gerry Terrell, Fabian Leclercq, Friedrich Strey and Shirley Croft. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from Ignite Architects at work.

The team from Ignite Architects at work. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Team Ignite’s model.

Team Ignite’s model. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The newly-opened Grimshaw NZ studio joined in on the fun. From left: Jamie Griffiths, Raphael Dinglasan, James Browning (top), Sarah Song, Jessica Rust and Matthew Sao.

The newly-opened Grimshaw NZ studio joined in on the fun. From left: Jamie Griffiths, Raphael Dinglasan, James Browning (top), Sarah Song, Jessica Rust and Matthew Sao. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Grimshaw’s sculptural design taking shape.

Grimshaw’s sculptural design taking shape. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Matthew Sao from Grimshaw presents his team’s creation.

Matthew Sao from Grimshaw presents his team’s creation. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Ministry of Architecture + Interiors returned this year with their team, pictured with judge Matt Liggins (far left): Rasha Al Assafi, Alastair Kay, Will Christie (top), Jannyne Bianco and Nicole Dealey.

Ministry of Architecture + Interiors returned this year with their team, pictured with judge Matt Liggins (far left): Rasha Al Assafi, Alastair Kay, Will Christie (top), Jannyne Bianco and Nicole Dealey.

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The team from Ministry of Architecture + Interiors present to the group.

The team from Ministry of Architecture + Interiors present to the group. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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‘The eighth wonder of the world’, a model by Ministry of Architecture + Interiors.

‘The eighth wonder of the world’, a model by Ministry of Architecture + Interiors. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Team Moller. From left: James McNicholas, Craig Moller, Norman Wei, Vanessa Coxhead, Florence Delisle and Anthony Washer.

Team Moller. From left: James McNicholas, Craig Moller, Norman Wei, Vanessa Coxhead, Florence Delisle and Anthony Washer. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Vanessa Coxhead from Moller Architects presents her team’s creation.

Vanessa Coxhead from Moller Architects presents her team’s creation. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Moller Architects’ model included miniatures of a whale and a giant squid.

Moller Architects’ model included miniatures of a whale and a giant squid. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from Tailor Inc. From left: Julie Coutts, Nicky Wood, Bo Hermans, Sofia Radals, Bonnie Fawcett and David Muir.

The team from Tailor Inc. From left: Julie Coutts, Nicky Wood, Bo Hermans, Sofia Radals, Bonnie Fawcett and David Muir. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Tailor Inc present, with their model in the foreground.

Tailor Inc present, with their model in the foreground. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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A detail from Tailor Inc’s model.

A detail from Tailor Inc’s model. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from Warren and Mahoney. From left: Nicholas Besuyen, Bailen Thatcher, Kate Stanley, Karolina Bihun, Fynbar Heron and Ameesh Morar.

The team from Warren and Mahoney. From left: Nicholas Besuyen, Bailen Thatcher, Kate Stanley, Karolina Bihun, Fynbar Heron and Ameesh Morar. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Warren and Mahoney’s model. Up the Wahs!

Warren and Mahoney’s model. Up the Wahs! Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from Warren and Mahoney placed great focus on the detail.

The team from Warren and Mahoney placed great focus on the detail. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from Architecture+Women.NZ (A+W.NZ): From left: Katie Simmonds (Walker Group), Kaea Kerkin (Te Whatu Ora), Wing Chan (PTG Architecture), Selena Sager (Agent of Architecture), Kelly Ting (a student) and Charlotte Dunning (Warren and Mahoney).

The team from Architecture+Women.NZ (A+W.NZ): From left: Katie Simmonds (Walker Group), Kaea Kerkin (Te Whatu Ora), Wing Chan (PTG Architecture), Selena Sager (Agent of Architecture), Kelly Ting (a student) and Charlotte Dunning (Warren and Mahoney). Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Charlotte Dunning from Warren and Mahoney presents on behalf of A+W.NZ.

Charlotte Dunning from Warren and Mahoney presents on behalf of A+W.NZ. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Last year’s winners, A+W.NZ brought their A-game this year again with this model.

Last year’s winners, A+W.NZ brought their A-game this year again with this model. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Details from A+W.NZ’s model.

Details from A+W.NZ’s model. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Team Woods Bagot. From left: Craig Hopkins, Charlotte Smith, Kairangi Ama, Jihwan Jeon
and Robinson Yang.

Team Woods Bagot. From left: Craig Hopkins, Charlotte Smith, Kairangi Ama, Jihwan Jeon and Robinson Yang. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from Woods Bagot’s underwater and under-table creation was revealed through fringing, referencing the ocean’s breaking waves.

The team from Woods Bagot’s underwater and under-table creation was revealed through fringing, referencing the ocean’s breaking waves. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The Jasmax team. From left: Hamish Stirrat, Bronte Tricker, Icao Tiseli, Nick Johnston, Kahurangi Eruera and Callum Dowie.

The Jasmax team. From left: Hamish Stirrat, Bronte Tricker, Icao Tiseli, Nick Johnston, Kahurangi Eruera and Callum Dowie. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Kahurangi Eruera presents on behalf of team Jasmax.

Kahurangi Eruera presents on behalf of team Jasmax. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Jasmax’s road cone and rugby-inspired landmark, completed by a Warriors utility forward.

Jasmax’s road cone and rugby-inspired landmark, completed by a Warriors utility forward. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from SANNZ with their winning design. From left: Evana Chan, Cecelia Kuang, Sahil Tiku, Rohan Sadhu and Adam Collett.

The team from SANNZ with their winning design. From left: Evana Chan, Cecelia Kuang, Sahil Tiku, Rohan Sadhu and Adam Collett. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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SANNZ’s winning design included Mayor Brown’s personal seaside tennis court, a spot for all the “drongos” and a huge bucket for emptying the city of its floodwaters.

SANNZ’s winning design included Mayor Brown’s personal seaside tennis court, a spot for all the “drongos” and a huge bucket for emptying the city of its floodwaters. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The team from JBT Architects. From left: Andras Bognan, Lily Zhao, Kelly Boyd, Patrick Sherwood, Nadine Molving and Jenny Wang.

The team from JBT Architects. From left: Andras Bognan, Lily Zhao, Kelly Boyd, Patrick Sherwood, Nadine Molving and Jenny Wang. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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JTB Architects created this little tower with slide surrounded by the sea.

JTB Architects created this little tower with slide surrounded by the sea. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The teams gather around to listen to presentations.

The teams gather around to listen to presentations. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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The judges deliberate. From left: Chris Barton, Matt Liggins and Kim Paton.

The judges deliberate. From left: Chris Barton, Matt Liggins and Kim Paton. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Announcing the winners! From left: Kim Paton, Chris Barton, Matt Liggins and Karmen Hoare of Resene, who presented all the teams with their prizes.

Announcing the winners! From left: Kim Paton, Chris Barton, Matt Liggins and Karmen Hoare of Resene, who presented all the teams with their prizes. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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A big thanks to the great people from Kada, Laminex, Resene, <em>Architecture NZ</em> and <em>ArchitectureNow</em> who made the night such a success.

A big thanks to the great people from Kada, Laminex, Resene, Architecture NZ and ArchitectureNow who made the night such a success. Image: Jessica Chloe Gernat

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Model Citizens 3.0, an AGM event in association with <em>ArchitectureNow</em> and <em>Architecture NZ</em> magazine as part of Aotearoa Festival of Architecture 2023.

Model Citizens 3.0, an AGM event in association with ArchitectureNow and Architecture NZ magazine as part of Aotearoa Festival of Architecture 2023.

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This year’s Model Citizens event, held as part of the Aotearoa Festival of Architecture programme, saw 11 teams from architecture practices and organisations gather together at Kada’s showroom in Auckland’s Parnell for a friendly, fun-filled object-making competition.

Model Citizens was first held in 2019, and teams from across the architectural design spectrum compete to win the coveted title and trophy, first won by Athfield Architects.

Judging the night’s creations this year were Matt Liggins (artist, architect and provocateur), Kim Paton (director at Objectspace) and Chris Barton (editor, Architecture NZ).

The teams of six were asked to “dream big” along the lines of Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s Bjarke Ingels Group’s (BIG) Aarhus Havnebadet-inspired dream for an open-air swimming pool along Auckland’s Bledisloe Wharf.

Points were awarded for:

  • The best use of colour and technical building skills
  • The best overall aesthetic appeal
  • Size and general ‘wow-ness’
  • The team’s 1.5-minute presentation
  • Bonus points were also awarded arbitrarily by the judges

The teams had only two hours to brainstorm, devise and construct their interpretation of what this landmark structure on the city’s soon-to-be reclaimed waterfront land might look like.

To put their creativity and design skills to the test, the teams were provided with waterjet-cut slotted shapes of Seratone by Laminex, Resene coloured drawdowns and double-sided tape to create the forms.

Taking away the big blue trophy this year was the team from SANNZ. The trophy was won last year by Architecture+Women NZ .

Delicious food and drinks were provided by generous hosts Kada and event partners Resene and Laminex.

All proceeds from this year’s Model Citizens event, approximately $3300, will be donated to the Auckland City Mission.

Model Citizens 2023 was brought to you by ArchitectureNow and Architecture New Zealand magazine with the generous support of event partners ReseneKada and Laminex. The zero-waste for-charity event coincides with NZIA’s Auckland Architecture Festival. 


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