Master by Project : Landscape/Architecture FCIB UNITEC: February 2013

The Masters by Project programme is a lab for landscape and architectural graduates to ask searching question about their own practice and the ways that practice can connect to the world.

The programme encompasses a range of graduates who bring their own unique perspectives to research work. Their research often crosses disciplinary lines. The result is a constellation of ideas that resolve around concerns rather than specific disciplinary problems. This work is developed in presentation and discussion at four workshops held through out the year. Important practitioners and academics in their field and associated professionals, developers, iwi, and local government, not only critique the work but help to engender a larger conversation about the impact of the research for the bigger community.

What is the shape of the wananga of the future and how will this affect the form of the marae? How can the social problematic of suburbia be addressed? What is the social ecology of the industrial park? These are just a few of the critical questions that the graduates are engaged with.

New research work in the programme is becoming more focused on specific problems to do with Auckland’s predicted growth; where can development occur in a way that will not affect Auckland’s unique landscape and lifestyle? This work is being carried out in collaboration with practice and industry.

mbradbury@unitec.ac.nz

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Hi everyone and welcome to the MLA by Project programme, Unitec, 2013. My name is Matthew Bradbury, I am a senior lecturer in the Landscape Architecture programme at Unitec and acting programme leader for the Master of Landscape Architecture by Project programme. Peter Connolly, the previous programme leader, has recently joined the Landscape Architecture programme at Victoria as an Associate Professor. I want to thank Peter for his sterling work with the MLA . For the last three years Peter has been dedicated to making a theoretically robust programme, helping students to realise there own potential for advanced research work and made real cross disciplinary connections. Pete has also been tireless in building a studio culture for master’s by project students with a dedicated workspace that we can now all enjoy. We wish Peter the very best.

This year we have six new candidates from different disciplines and at different stages of their landscape careers, from recent graduate to mid career professionals. We are kicking of the year with a group meeting and orientation on Wednesday the 27^th. We start with a bbq in the Fale courtyard at 12.30 then move to the masters studio where we will introduce ourselves and our areas of research interests, and meet the prospective supervisors. The supervisors will briefly talk about their research interests (and I encourage you to read about them on the blog before we meet). We also have a number of professionals from landscape practice who will talk about their collaborative projects.

After the meeting please consider who you think would be sympathetic to your research interests, then get in contact with me and we can discuss your choice. To help you develop your ideas into a research proposal we are planning an all day proposal workshop on March the 15^th. This will cover the basics of writing a proposal, where to find material in your field of interest and how to use end note. Working with your supervisor you have seven week to present your research proposal at the candidature workshop on the 3^rd of May.

You will then work with your supervisor to develop your research project, presenting your work at three workshops to a panel of professionals and academics. The dates for the workshops are on the blog . If you are a full time student you must present at every workshop, if part time ,every second one. If you pass every workshop then you are eligible to be examined at the subsequent workshop.

If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Dear Colleagues, Welcome to the Masters of Landscape Architecture Programme 2013.

Below is the calendar for the academic year. The calendar will be updated regularly. Important dates so far are

Orientation Day	Wednesday 27th February, 1 - 3 pm	BBQ lunch in the Fale Courtyard followed by orientation talk in the Masters studio.
Meet the supervisors	Friday 8^th of March	Informal get together to meet the supervisors and discuss nascent research proposals
Proposal Workshop	Friday 15^th March	How to write a research proposal. All day workshop in the MLA studio and Unitec Library 10 - 3
Candidate presentation practice	Friday 5^th of April	All MLA students Research Proposal Run through May Presention run through
Wkshp 1 Interim Presentations Candidate presentation	Friday 3rd May	All first year MLA students to present their research proposals. Zoe, Jennifer, Betsey, James, Ryan to present
Wkshp 2	Friday 14th June	Exam Jo Leather Exam Ryan Hodgson Zoe, Betsey, James, Jack to present
Wkshp 3	Friday 30th August
Wkshp 4	Friday 1st November	Exam Betsy Kettle Exam Jennifer Parlane

The 2012 Fred Tschopp Senior Scholarship, Department of Landscape Architecture, Unitec, NZ.

This year we had three very good candidates. Their work was of a very high standard, they all showed a willingness to engage in the many complex and difficult issues that our society faces now. How should we live and develop the edges of our cities? what role does the recycling play in our lives? how can green roofs be more than a technical innovation? these question affect us all and we are very grateful that these students have decided to undertake this critical research within the Masters of Landscape Architecture.

After much discussion and deliberation, the Panel, Chaired by Fred Jr., Renee Davis, Head of School and Matthew Bradbury have decided to award Zoe Cooper the 2012 Fred Tschopp Senior Scholarship.

Zoe’s research by design project is titled “A Living Roof Urbanism”.

Zoe’s proposal displayed a strong potential to contribute new knowledge to the discipline of landscape architecture by investigating the urban and public potential of living roofs. Living roofs an emerging area in the practice of landscape architecture, at the moment they tend to be technical solutions using generic planting on private roofs. Zoe’s project is looking at ways in the indisputable benefits of green roofs can include their use and enjoyment by the public. Perhaps this is a bit like the development of the public park, they started as private pleasure grounds before becoming what we now know as parks. Of course the inventor of the public park in America was the first landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted, his master piece is Central Park. Fred Tschopp was the first landscape architect in New Zealand to introduce the idea of a people park, a multi functional public space that everyone could use for a multitude of recreational purposes.

We see Zoë’s project as being just as revolutionary, imagine if not only the ground was public in the city but also all the roofs. This would be another great contribution that the discipline of landscape architecture is making to the development of the modern city.

Congratulations to Zoe for being the recipient of the 2012 Fred Tschopp Senior Scholarship.

The Fred Tschopp Senior Scholarship

The Fred Tschopp Senior Scholarship is made possible by a generous Endowment made by its Founder Fred Jr. and the New Zealand and California Tschopp Family. The award commemorates the life and achievements of Fred Tschopp Senior, a Swiss-American certified landscape architect who pioneered modern, innovative landscape architecture in New Zealand during the years 1929-1932. Fred Tschopp Snr. is thought to be the first trained and registered landscape architect who practised in this country. He is recognised in refereed publications as New Zealand's first modern practitioner.

The Fred Tschopp Senior Scholarship is a Fees Award given to an entry level student who satisfies the following criteria through a portfolio and presentation to the Tschopp Scholarship panel. The scholarship is for one full years fees. .

The successful student will be selected on the basis that their design portfolio demonstrated:

1. The potential for their research to contribute new knowledge to the discipline of landscape architecture through design research

2. The potential to make a challenging, exciting and significant difference to our world, cities and landscapes

3. The potential to honour the legacy of Fred Tschopp Snr., as characterized by his creative and innovative expansion of the traditional boundaries of the Profession of Landscape Architecture as represented in his "Pioneering work in Rotorua".