New Zealand’s Festival of Architecture kicks off around the country on Friday (14 September) and this year is aiming to broaden the discussion beyond architecture to the importance of design in towns and cities. There’s walking tours around cities, lectures, open homes, exhibitions and competitions - all designed to coax the general public in to taking part.

“We’re finding as many different ways as possible to engage the public in conversation about design, the importance of it, and how it can improve their lives,” says curator Jeremy Hansen. “Every festival is more successful if it’s generous in terms of who it allows in. And I think landscape architects and architects both stand to benefit from public engagement in design conversation because they’re both fighting the same battles and trying to achieve quality outcomes. So it seemed to make sense to invite landscape architects to take part, and the New Zealand Institute of Architects was very keen on that as well.”

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