Nina Patel

BArch (Hons.) MUrbDes (Hons.)

Nina joined the Motu Design team in 2013 after both studying and working in architecture in the UK and Europe, and then undertaking various part time teaching roles at the University of Auckland and Victoria University.  She has substantial experience in undertaking urban design reviews and assessments of large scale developments, both residential and commercial as well working on community arts and planning projects.

Nina enjoys the challenge of investigating new ways to engage individuals and communities to play a part in their environment; to explore how we can use creativity as a tool for place making and to create unique and sustainable design solutions that better reflect the varied landscapes, histories and cultures of Aotearoa New Zealand.  Her urban design masters research work focused on how the existing portage routes in Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland could be regenerated and reincorporated back into our contemporary sub/urban environment and landscape.

Nina is particularly passionate about improving her local neighbourhood of Avondale and the Te Whau River, where she has been significantly involved in and facilitated a number of projects in both a professional and private capacity.  This includes the recent workshops facilitated by Motu Design that worked with the people of Avondale to create a community-led vision Our Future Avondale.

 Alongside her work at Motu Design she is also part of the local arts collective Hoop-la with Kathy Waghorn https://www.hoop-la.nz/