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

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

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.   
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