Megan Wraight
{{short description|New Zealand landscape architect (1961-2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox architect
| name = Megan Wraight
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1961|12|12}}
| birth_place = Rangiora, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2020|08|31|1961|12|12}}
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| occupation = Landscape architect
| practice = Wraight + Associates Limited
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| education =
| alma_mater = RMIT University, Melbourne
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| awards = NZ Arts Foundation Laureate Award
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| website = {{url|www.waal.co.nz}}
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}}
Megan Mary Wraight (12 December 1961 – 31 August 2020) was a New Zealand landscape architect who had considerable influence on the design of public spaces.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/122618823/capital-landscape-architect-megan-wraight-public-space-pioneer-dies-at-58 |title=Capital landscape architect Megan Wraight, public space pioneer, dies at 58 |first=Andre |last=Chumko |date=1 September 2020 |work=Stuff.co.nz |accessdate=27 September 2020}} She was the founding principal of Wraight + Associates Limited, which has completed a wide variety of large-scale urban projects throughout New Zealand, including waterfront redevelopments, educational facilities, transport facilities and urban-renewal projects.{{Cite news|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0605/S00510.htm|title='International accolades for NZ landscape architect'|date=23 May 2006|work=Scoop.co.nz|access-date=9 Feb 2019}}
Biography
File:Chaffer's Building, Waitangi Park (712903823).jpg
Wraight was born in Rangiora and lived in rural settings there, Havelock North and Motueka as she was growing up.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/122746587/megan-wraight-wove-papatnuku-into-public-space |title=Megan Wraight wove Papatūānuku into public space |first=Andre |last=Chumko |date=26 September 2020 |work=Stuff.co.nz |accessdate=27 September 2020}}
Wraight completed a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at RMIT University, Melbourne, in 1992. In 2006, she received the International Federation of Landscape Architect award, one of the industry's highest international honours, and in 2013 she was the first landscape architect to receive the Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award.
Wraight started her own practice in 1998 - Megan Wraight Landscape Architects. It was restructured into Wraight + Associates in 2003.{{Cite web |title=Capital landscape architect Megan Wraight, public space pioneer, dies at 58 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/122618823/capital-landscape-architect-megan-wraight-public-space-pioneer-dies-at-58 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}
File:Tīramarama Way in Wynyard Quarter.jpg]]
Her Waitangi Park project in Wellington showcased sustainable landscape design, particularly water conservation, and her work on the Wynyard Quarter on Auckland's waterfront is an example of urban waterfront renewal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thearts.co.nz/artists/megan-wraight|title='Megan Wraight'|website=The Arts Council|access-date=9 Feb 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.waal.co.nz/our-people/megan-wraight/|title=Megan Wraight {{!}} WĀ|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-09}} The Taranaki Wharf precinct in Wellington was a collaboration between Ian Athfield (architect), Graeme McIndoe, Chris McDonald, Stuart Niven (urban designers), Wraight and Penny Allen (landscape architects).{{Cite book |last=Gatley |first=Julia |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q118571795 |title=Vertical living : the Architectural Centre and the remaking of Wellington |last2=Walker |first2=Paul |date=2014-01-01 |publisher=Auckland University Press |isbn=978-1-86940-815-2}}
Wraight + Associates also designed Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, and have won many awards from the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects, including four of the top awards in 2017.
= Projects and awards =
Some of Wraight + Associates' projects include:
- The development of Waitangi Park, Taranaki Wharf, CentrePort and the Lambton Harbour Masterplan on Wellington's Waterfront
- The Hood Street Upgrade, Hamilton
- Waitomo Caves Visitors' Centre, with Architecture Workshop
- Christchurch Coastal Pathway{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccp.org.nz/|title=Christchurch Coastal Pathway|website=Christchurch Coastal Pathway|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-28}}
- Wynyard Quarter, Jellicoe Street, North Wharf and Silo Park on Auckland's waterfront{{Cite news|url=https://landscapearchitecturemagazine.org/2017/06/05/the-wharf-at-work/#more-12499|title='The Wharf At Work'|date=5 June 2017|work=Landscape Architecture Magazine|access-date=9 Feb 2018}}
- Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, as Wraight Athfield Landscape + Architecture Ltd (WALA) (Category Winner, Parks category, NZILA awards 2017){{Cite web|url=https://nzila.co.nz/showcase/pukeahu-national-war-memorial-park-2|title=Pukeahu National War Memorial Park {{!}} NZ Institute of Landscape Architects|website=nzila.co.nz|access-date=2019-02-09}}{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/artsonsunday/audio/2575003/landscape-architect-megan-wraight|title=Landscape architect Megan Wraight|last=Freeman|first=Lynn|date=3 November 2013|type=Streaming audio|publisher=RNZ|series=Arts on Sunday}}
- Victoria University of Wellington Hub - Wraight + Associates Ltd with Athfield | Architectus (NZILA Award of Excellence, Institutional category, 2017){{Cite web|url=https://nzila.co.nz/awards/resene-nzila-pride-of-place-landscape-architectu-2|title=2017 Award Winners {{!}} Resene NZILA Pride of Place Landscape Architecture {{!}} NZ Institute of Landscape Architects|website=nzila.co.nz|access-date=2019-05-29}}
- Cenotaph Precinct Upgrade, Wraight + Associates Ltd & Wellington City Council Urban Design Team (Category Winner, Urban spaces category, NZILA awards 2017)
- Redevelopment of Memorial Square in New Lynn in 1998.{{cite report |title=New Lynn Reserve Management Plan 2004 |date=2004|publisher=Waitakere City Council|pages=81-83}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official}}
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{{Arts Foundation Laureate Award}}
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Category:New Zealand landscape architects