Preserving culture in artforms - including architecture - in a way that is meaningful, and enduring is more than just a box ticking exercise. It depends on collaboration and a creative dialogue to be exchanged between diverse contributors. These contributors come together to form a democratic, non-hierarchal and innovative community that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Landfills filled with the remnants of our throwaway culture are, tragically, a sign of the times that so desperately need addressing. Ayla Raymond-Roberts, of CAAHT Studio Architects, is on a crusade to combat the hangover of decades of consumerism attached to the housing sector with an approach devoted to logical and energetic spaces.

Mike Holmes of Mike Holmes Architecture grew up on a staple diet of building banter; it was the native language in his house. Given his mother tongue, and the fact construction is in his DNA thanks to his family’s predisposition to the trade, it goes some way to explaining his considerable success in the industry. There’s also the fact he’s very tenacious and has built a business that lives and breathes its craft.

Intelligent design that pays homage to the generosity of Mother Nature while working to protect all she offers was a governing approach that created a winning series of designs at this year’s Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Awards held on Friday 3 August.