Te Ao Maori and Matauranga Maori

 The Department of Landscape Architecture is developing a comprehensive programme to equip our graduates with the ability to operate knowledgeably and effectively in the Maori world. It is based on a strategy involving an understanding of te ao Maori (the Maori world), Matauranga Maori (Maori way of learning), increasing participation and success of Maori students, and participation and reciprocity with Maori organisations. This year’s programme is of a greater scale and more integrated with individual courses and the department’s programmes than ever before. It will serve as something of a pilot that will be refined over time.

To this end the year began with a number of marae visits. Initially this included orientation at Te Noho Kotahitanga, Unitec’s marae, followed by a noho marae (marae stay) for first year students of all department programmes at Umupuia, Ngai Tai’s marae at Maraetai. BLA student Danyon Robertson observed that,

“This was a very special and eye opening experience for all of the students who attended. We were educated about what Landscape Architecture meant and how it related to Maori. The inspiring hosts at the Marae discussed with us how we should consider our wider natural environment when designing and how culture and heritage hold so much value in the spaces we work with. It was a great experience, which gave all of us time to bond and learn, through a fun and relaxing visit in a real piece of Auckland paradise”.

Damian Powley, a landscape architect, alumnus and member of the iwi, assisted the planning for this visit. Students of the Landscape Assessment and Planning course will return there later in the year to contribute to the planning and design for the marae.

Growing the Future of Wynyard Quarter

A group of Unitec landscape design students have transformed the inside of a silo into an edible urban garden as part of the Growing the Future event at Wynyard Quarter. Created in partnership with Auckland’s Urban Pantry, the garden is designed to offer inspiration and ideas for city dwellers on how to grow edibles in small spaces.

Melissa Marjo, one of four students taking part in the project (the other members are Sam Jennings, Sally Trolove and Trish Reynolds), says the group has been involved in everything from concept, design and plant growing,

“We have been given a blank canvas within the space and taken the idea of urban food growing and created something with real visual impact to get people enthusiastic about gardening”

"The inspiration behind our garden is the origin and evolution of Wynyard Quarter. In our design we hope people will see the area's beginnings as an industrial site, including a working port and tank farm, as well as its more recent reinvention as a public park and green space.

“The materials we have chosen reflect this industrial history - scrap metal, concrete and scaffolding. The plant selection is deliberately broad and aims to show that even varieties such as corn and passion fruit can thrive in confined urban spaces.”

Melissa says the students have taken away invaluable learning from working on the project, particularly given the limitations of the space.

“The lack of light and windows in the silo, time of year for growing things and keeping the garden fresh and alive during the 10 days it is on display has meant certain challenges to overcome - however we are really proud of what we have achieved and hope it inspires people.”

Urban Pantry coordinator and gardening expert Emily Harris says the silo will become a source of inspiration for those interested in gardens and growing food.

"The Unitec students have taken the idea of designing an urban garden inside a concrete silo and created something really original that's going to expand people's perceptions of what an edible garden can be."

Urban Pantry creates edible gardens and events to engage Aucklander’s in creating a vibrant, sustainable city

“We bring creativity to food growing and sustainability to create fun experiences for people and to inspire them to bring more of this into their lives”, Emily says.

The urban garden is open to the public from 17 - 27 April at Silo 6, Silo Park, Wynyard Quarter. Drop in anytime during 10am-4pm to explore the garden and plant a seed to take home for your own edible urban garden.

Other events and activities on offer during Growing the future – an exploration and celebration of food growing – include art, workshops, talks, and a film screening inside a silo.

You can follow our students' progress and get more information at facebook.com/growingthefutureAK, and search Instagram using the hashtag #silounitec.

Te Whare Oranga o Parakai - Health and Wellbeing Centre

Design students from the Departments of Landscape Architecture, Architecture and Interior Design have collaborated on the design development of Te Whare Oranga o Parakai, a new purpose built health and wellbeing centre located in Parakai. The client Charm Torrance said, “the involvement of Unitec students has resulted in an innovative approach to Te Whare Oranga” and “locals will be impressed by the manner in which they have incorporated the essence of South Kaipara into the design”.

The centre, which offers health practitioner rooms, teaching spaces and a community kitchen, as well as providing space for a monthly local produce market was opened with over 100 invited guests in attendance on the 28^th March. Wendy Horne and Leon de Wet Fourie were members of the official welcoming party. HoD’s Renee Davies, Pam Malcolm and Sandra Arnet along with their students also attended the opening to celebrate their efforts.

Susannah Kitching, Project Manager for the multidisciplinary design inputs into the project worked with Bachelor of Landscape Architecture students Fiona Ting, Natalie Couch, Aynsley Cisaria and Tosh Graham on the concept landscape proposal for the site. The proposal was presented to the South Kaipara community on the 29^th March; feedback included “Can’t wait to see this develop into our local community hub” and “Incredible imagination and style. Love it.”

Point Chevalier Collaboration

Sharon Eccleshall, Nick Slattery and Glenn Ridley, 2^nd year students from the BLA degree programme, have been working on a Negotiated Studio project focusing on the redevelopment of Point Chevalier town centre. Auckland Council issued an RFP in February for the town centre upgrade, which was won by Bespoke Landscape Architects/Aecom/HEB.

The students have developed an initial concept, in light of the Council brief, and have met with Lee Brazier of Bespoke LA. Their proposal includes flexible, multi-use spaces, seating areas enclosed by native planting, a performance stage, storm water treatment wetland and establishment of views shafts to the western Waitakere Ranges and northern Point Chevalier Beach.

The design process involved consultation with students from Pasadena Intermediate School on the design. This resulted in lots of interesting suggestions, which were incorporated in the scheme, such as provision of play and congregation spaces, elements to project digital media on and designing the space so it operates as an outdoor lounge room. Sharon, Nick and Glenn have also been in consultation throughout the project with Chris Casey of the Point Chevalier Social Enterprise group.

Masters Updates

MP David Shearer views masters work at latest workshop

The Masters by Project workshop in April was a great success. David Shearer, Labour’s Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and MP for Mt Albert joined other critics; Juan Molina, senior architect and urban designer at CPRW Fisher, Bill McKay Senior Lecturer and Associate Head (Student Relations) in the School of Architecture and Planning, UoA, and Katrina Simon, senior lecturer in the Faculty of the Built Environment University of New South Wales, Sydney, to provide feedback.

David was particularly interested in the work of MLA student Raewyn Davies Martin whose research project sought to develop localized treatment for black water in the Mt Albert catchment. David commended Raewyn on an extensive design investigation into how this problem might be treated and also produces a new-public space for the citizens of Mt Albert.

The director of the MbP programme, Matthew Bradbury, organized the workshop.

Collaboration with Industry

In a new initiative for the Masters of Landscape Architecture programme, Matthew Bradbury has initiated a number of research projects with Auckland landscape architectural practices. The first three projects are underway with honours students Shayne Noronha looking at, Rising Tides and the Future of New Zealand’s Coast and Riyasp Bhandari looking at The Urban Edge – Revitalising the Auckland Waterfront. The two students are working respectively with Garth Falconer of Reset Urban Design and Bespoke Landscape Architecture. Zara Jawadi is also developing a master’s project with the help of Mike Thomas Landscape Architecture principal at Jasmax.

The recent June workshop, which included the examination of Grace He was another successful and enlightening event. You can learn more about the MLA here

Are you considering a Master of Landscape Architecture with us? Please contact mbradbury@unitec.ac.nz for details.

Auckland Council and Pacific Steel Collaboration

Auckland Council and Pacific Steel are beginning a collaboration to restore a local community park, the Blake Street Reserve in Favona. Senior lecturer Matthew Bradbury, who was invited to help provide design input into the project, suggested that the team work with a senior BLA undergraduate, Carlos Charlton to develop the design work as part of his final year negotiated studies project. Carlos was excited to be working on a real world design project in which his design would be build. Carlos has visited the site twice and met representatives from Auckland Council, Mark Read and Pacific Steel, Estelle Curd. Carlos also visited the Pacific Steel plant to look the range of products that PC made to discuss how they might be incorporated into his design master plan. The next stage of the project is to work with the local community to help them develop their ideas about what they would like to see for the park.

What Are Our Graduates Doing Now?

Andrew Priestley,  a graduate of Unitec who now work as a Landscape Architect for Boffa Miskell, Auckland shares some of his recent graduate experiences...

I graduated from Unitec at the end of 2013 and started working for Boffa Miskell in the beginning of 2014. I’m part of the design team, which works on a range of projects from urban public realm projects to large scale developments.

 

The thing I enjoy most about the work I'm doing now is that Boffa Miskell makes a real effort to make sure their graduates get as much experience across the field as possible. This has opened my eyes to how diverse the profession of Landscape Architecture is. Personally, I enjoy the large scale projects and have been fortunate enough to work on a few large coastal projects that have been closely tied with ecology and restoration. 

Are there any achievements you are particularly proud of?  

I was humbled to have received the Boffa Miskell award for Top Negotiated Project, and then to be hired only months later. The significance of this particular achievement was that my negotiated study was about golf course design, a real passion of mine and the reason I studied  Landscape Architecture in the first place. When I first started at Boffa Miskell I felt as though I could bring that passion with me, and I have been lucky to work on projects that have been associated with golf course design.

How do you try to inspire people? 

Through project work. There are amazing projects done by Landscape Architects all over the world, and its these projects that showcase our profession and inspire people. 

What does success mean to you?

Right now, to be practicing in the profession I studied. Ultimately, to be practicing in areas of the profession I am most passionate about, and being the best at it.

How did Unitec help get you to where you are now? 

The time at Unitec is as good as you want to make it. As mentioned earlier, in my last year of university, I chose to study something I was passionate about and I thank my classmates and supervisors from Unitec for supporting that, and for pushing me both in and out of the classroom with industry contacts and work experience.

What are your goals for the future – what would you like to achieve? 

There is always a satisfaction no matter how big or small a project is when you can see people enjoying and creating memories in spaces you have designed. If I could do this through designing golf courses, that would be my ultimate goal.