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, 20 May 2014

Harbourside Business Park


Grace Warne presented her latest research finding/design work to Mike Gibson, manager of the Harbourside Business Park and the Geoff Nightingale managing director of the Rosebank business association. Graces MLA project, ‘Making a Sustainable Industrial Landscape’ asks: “How can landscape architects advance sustainable industrial practice through social engagement?” Grace is using the Harbourside Business Park, part of the industrial precinct of Rosebank Peninsula, Auckland as a case study to develop a research project that aims to explore how social behavior in design can advance sustainable industrial practice for light and medium industrial sites. Graces research is leading to the development of a design methodology focused on shaping sustainable industrial practice through social interactions. Social interactions, engagement and behavior have been demonstrated to affect personal well-being, environmental awareness and care, and aesthetic perception.
Mike and Geoff were impressed with Graces work, especially the research into the connections between improved social ecology and workplace happiness. They commended her ability in finding unexpected sites for greater social interaction to take place. This work in conjunction with a programme to improve the stormwater quality of the site offers larger strategies for the of improvement of industrial sites along the Rosebank peninsula.

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