CHALLENGING GENDER NORMS IN ARCHITECTURE

Josh Sanoria of Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Architecture was the winner of the 2024 Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Student Design Awards. Here, he explains his escapist, explorative thesis, Queeriosities of Space, and the ways in which architecture can break down barriers and encourage diversity and inclusivity. Queeriosities of Space explores the cross-cultural expressions and interpretations of queer spaces in the Philippines and Aotearoa New Zealand. The queer cultures of these countries reveal evident differences. In the Philippines, same-sex marriage remains prohibited and there are no legal protections against public discrimination. In contrast, New Zealand recognises marriage equality and enforces anti-discrimination laws under the Human Rights Act 1993. However, despite these protections, living in New Zealand unmasked the presence of exclusion,…