The
Master by Project programme had a successful year in 2013. Record numbers of
students enrolled; thirteen in the MLA; Ryan Hodgson, Joanne Leather, Betsy
Kettle, Jack Haldane-Willis, James Walker, Jennifer Parlane, Zoe Cooper,
Grace Warne, Helen Frances, Henry Crothers, Jillian Rice, Kieran Dove, and
Grace He. And five in the MARCH; Lester Mismash, Peter McPherson, Kelly
Henderson, Eloise Veber, and Maurits Kelderman. The students were joined by an
outstanding group of supervisors; Penny Cliffen, Nikolay Popov, Hamish Foote,
Renee Davis, Sue Wake, Daniel Irving, Peter Griffiths, from the DLA and Prof.
Branko Mitrovic, Prof. Mike Austin, and Kerry Francis from the DA. The results
were clear, three examinations, all with high grades and one distinction. Congratulations to Jo Leather, Ryan Hodgson,
and Jennifer Parlane.
Workshops
The
year kicked of with an orientation workshop for the eight new MLA candidates.
The workshop introduced students to a number of research opportunities from established
researchers at Unitec and from leading Auckland landscape practices. Two
research topics that attracted candidate’s interest from the DLA were landscape
parametrics, Nikolay Popov's research field, and children environments, Sue Wake’s
research interest. Assoc. Professor Ken Simpson introduced a collaborative
research project with TEPU to develop a new master plan for development of the
Rosebank peninsula. We also had
professionals from Auckland practice; Gary Marshall from Jasmax, Will Thresher
from Thresher Associates and Nat Lawrence from Reset Urban design present
research projects. Kieran Dove decided to work with Nikolay Popov and Reset
Urban design on developing a new landscape on the western side of Shoal Bay
using parametric modelling. While Grace Warne took up the opportunity to work
with business on the Rosebank peninsula and help them develop an awareness of the
extraordinary landscape they occupy.
The
first workshop on the third of May was an opportunity for nearly all the new
masters students, MLA and MARCH, to present.
Kieran Dove, Helen Francis, Grace Warne, Kelly Henderson, Jill Rice,
Eloise Veber, and Henry Crothers all submitted their research proposals to a
distinguished panel; Andrew Douglas, Senior Lecturer AUT, Gary Marshall,
Associate Jasmax, Nat Lawrence, Senior Designer Reset Urban Design, Will
Thresher, Director Thresher and Associates, Jeremy Treadwell, Senior Lecturer
UoA, Eu Jin Chua Programme Leader, MDES UIT, Mike Austin, Professor of
Architecture UIT, and Jeannette Budgett, Senior Lecturer UIT.. Second year MLA
students, Elizabeth Kettle, Jennifer Parlane, and James Walker, also presented
work in progress.
The
second workshop on the 14th of July saw two MLA students; Ryan Hodgson
and Jo Leather successfully pass their examination. David Irwin, Director,
Isthmus Landscape Architects and Claire O’Shaughnessy, Associate, Jasmax
examined Ryan. Dennis Scott, Director DJ Scott and Associates, and Stuart
Houghton, Associate Boffa Miskell examined Jo. 2nd year MLA and MARCH students,
Zoe Cooper, Maurits Kelderman, and Betsy Kettle also presented their recent
research work to the invited panel. Grace He, a part time MLA student presented
her candidature proposal. The panel consisted of James Lundy, Director Lundy
and Associates, Stuart Houghton, Associate Boffa Miskell, Will Thresher,
Director Thresher associates, Jeremy Treadwell, Senior Lecturer, UoA, Hannah
Ickert, PhD Candidate AUT, and Gyles Bendall, Principal Specialist Landscape,
Auckland Council.
The
third workshop on the 29th of August saw MLA students Grace Warne,
James Walker Henry Crothers, Helen Francis, Jennifer Parlane and Elizabeth
Kettle presenting as did MARCH students Lester Mishmash, Kelly Henderson,
Eloise Veber and Peter McPherson. Critics
for the workshop included both academics and practitioners from landscape,
architecture and the property industry; Nina Patel director of Te Wiata Studio,
Will Thresher Director of Thresher and Associates. Brady Nixon property development
manger for Progressive Enterprises. Fleur Palmer senior lecturer of Spatial
Design at Auckland University of Technology. Neil Martin Associate Principal at
Jasmax. Charles Walker Acting Dean of the Faculty of Design & Creative
Technologies at AUT. Gary Marshall Senior Associate at Jasmax and Design Manager,
Dr Diane Menzies Director of Undergraduate Programmes School of Architecture,
Victoria University. Juan Molina senior architect and urban designer at CPRW
Fisher, all contributed.
At
the last workshop of the year on the 8th of November we had the successful
exhibition and exam by Jennifer Parlane. Jennifer organised a stunning opening
event for her work in the MbP exhibition space, followed by her exam, which she
passed with distinction. Jennifer’s examiners were Claire O’Shaughnessy and
Garry Marshall. Meanwhile the MARCH students presented in the morning, Eloise
Veber and Kelly Henderson presenting their first workshop and Maurits Kelderman
and Peter McPherson presented their third workshop. Three MLA students
presented in the afternoon; Kieran Dove Grace Warne and James Walker. Critics
from academia and industry included Sarah Treadwell, Associate Professor,
NICAI, and University of Auckland. Greg Simon, Director, Gregory Simon
Barrister and Solicitor, Commercial Property Law. Patrick Clifford, Director,
Architectus. Garth Falconer, Director, Reset Urban Design. Edith Amituanai,
`Artist and Lecturer, DVA, Unitec. ,Omar
Barragan, Manager Built Environment Unit, Auckland Council. Richard Mann, Principal Policy
Analyst Auckland Council, Lecturer, BLA programme, Unitec, Principal Mann
Landscape Architecture ltd, Sally Peake, President of the New Zealand Institute
of Landscape Architects. Principal and director Peake Design Ltd. Lucas Epp, Project engineer,
Holmes Consulting Group. Yun Kong Sung, Manager, Open Media Lab, NICAI,
University of Auckland. Lisa Reihana, Artist,
Senior Lecturer, Design and Visual Arts, Unitec
Seminars
We
also held four seminars in the year. On Friday 26th July 2013, Dr Inger
Mewburn, from the Australian National University held a Masterclass on the
process of writing an exegesis for a practice-led degree in the creative
fields. On Friday 9th of August, we had
an academic writing workshop with Dr. Simon Nash. On Thursday 25th July 2013 we had a Masterclass on waterfront
infrastructure & best practice for a liveable city by Perry Lethlean, the
director of the Melbourne office of the Taylor Cullity Lethlean. On Monday the
7th October, we had a design workshop on Swarm Landscapes, designing for
climate proof future, run by Professor Rob Roggema of Wageningen University
Tikanga
Maori.
We
have had discussions to explore the ways in which the MbP programme can help
Ngati Whatua. An ongoing conversation with
Grant Pakihana Hawke, Chair of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust and Malcolm
Paterson, Kaiwhakahaere Matua (Senior Manager) Toki Taiao (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
Whai Maia Ltd heritage and resource management unit) has occurred at the Orakei
Marae and Unitec. Some of the suggested projects that master’s student could
investigate are; how the increase in housing in the Orakei catchment will
increase the flooding in the Orakei reserve, and how Auckland’s projected
population increase will enlarge the use of Tamaki drive. MbP students would be
able to both collect data and model the results of these speculations giving
Ngati Whatua valuable research to help them in future negotiations with
Auckland Council and other stakeholders. Two important Maori practitioners and
academics, Richard Mann and Lisa Reihana were invited to crit a Maori Master of
Architecture project. Adjunct Professor Di Menzies has met with an invited
group of Maori graduates discuss the development of a masters programme
focusing on Tikanga Maori. Our commitment to increasing Pacific Island
engagement with the programme is acknowledged by the invitation of Edith
Amituanai to be a critic in the November workshop.
Engagement
with practice
An
important initiative this year has been to engage with landscape and
architectural practice and to make them aware of the opportunity of working
with a senior research student at Unitec. Project could range from ones that
are are critical to each industries concerns to larger Auckland issues. Meeting
were held with a number of leading architectural practices in Auckland, Richard
Harris, Director, Jasmax, Patrick Clifford, Director, Architectus, Richard
Goldie director of Peddle Thorp amongst other. We have also established a
number of specific research projects that this group of architects would be
interested in collaborating with a MARCH student. Discussion has also been had
with John Walsh Communication Manager of the New Zealand Institute of
Architects and Justine Harvey editor of Architecture NZ.
Meeting
were also held with a number of leading landscapes architectural practices in
Auckland. Rachael de Lambert, director Boffa Miskell, Orson Waldock, Work Group
Manager for Opus International, David Irwin, founding director of Isthmus,
Katrina Kidson, CEO Isthmus, Garth Falconer, director, Rest Urban design
amongst other. We established a number of specific research projects that would
be of interest for a MLA student. Discussions were had with the editor of
Landscape New Zealand, Michael Barrett, which resulted in a review of the MbP programme
in the December issue of LNZ. Meetings and discussions were also had with
representatives from Auckland Council, especially the Built Environment Unit,
Auckland Transport and Waterfront Auckland, exploring ways in which students from
the MbP could work with these agencies on collaborative research projects.
Graphics
A
unified graphic presence was developed for the MbP programme. Designed by
Athena Sommerfield, a generic poster for the workshops was developed. The
poster showed the presenter, their topics, the panellists, and a map to the
event. Two posters /ads where also designed by Athena for the MARCH and MLA programmes.
They design work was produced for the grad show as a poster and as ads for the December
issues of LNZ and ANZ.
2013
Master by Project Grad Show
The
2013 MLA MARCH Grad show was a great success, curated by recent MLA graduate
Jennifer Parlane and MARCH student Lester Mismash, the show assembled a great
display of work ranging from initial investigations to full blown projects.
The
Fred Tschopp Senior Scholarship
The
Fred Tschopp Senior Scholarship is a Fees Award given to an entry level MLA
student. Four students applied for the scholarship this year. Grace He, Grace
Warne, Kieran Dove and Raewyn Beavis. The winner of the 2013 Fred Tschopp
Senior Scholarship was Grace He.
