Presenter
Architect
Drawingroom Architecture and Design
Elinor Harvey McDouall is a registered architect and director of Drawingroom Architecture & Design, a Whanganui-based practice specialising in architecture, interiors, heritage conservation and adaptive reuse.
With more than two decades of architectural experience, Elinor has developed a particular passion for transforming existing buildings and spaces, finding new purpose and beauty in structures that might otherwise be overlooked.
Her work includes the award-winning restoration of Ridgway Chambers, the revitalisation of Whanganui's public library and the transformation of the historic fishing boat Iona into a distinctive riverside retreat. These projects reflect her creative approach to working with existing buildings, materials and their stories.
Elinor’s practice brings together heritage, sustainability and contemporary design, demonstrating how thoughtful adaptation can breathe new life into familiar places.
At the Festival she shares her experience of reimagining existing structures and the opportunities that reuse presents for Whanganui's architectural future.