EXIT designs anything but ordinary

Embargoed to 6pm, 6/11/14

EXIT designs anything but ordinary

Challenged to understand the concepts and push the boundaries of structural form, CPIT’s third year Architectural Studies students have created designs for their exhibition EXIT that are anything but ordinary.

Standing out from an impressive collection of projects is Michael Carter who will be presented with the Warren and Mahoney award for Best Design for his aquatic centre project and the NZIA award for Highest Academic Achievement during an award ceremony at 5.30pm tonight at the CPSA building, Madras Street campus.

Architectural Studies tutor Belfiore Bologna says embedding engineering principles into the programme has paid off. “The students have really tested themselves. When you are in the third year you need to understand complex structural systems, not that you will become an engineer but so you can utilise your understanding as a design element and to communicate properly with engineers and other consultants. That’s where the industry is headed with engineering and architecture working more closely together in a collaborative way from early stages of design.”

He said Michael’s work stood out for his coherent design, excellent understanding of the types of spaces that are required for his building, how these spaces are defined by the structural system and the appropriate interaction of it with other elements of the building (enclosure system, provision for services, etc.).

Showcasing the structural system is an outcome that had its early beginnings during the Industrial Revolution with examples like the Eiffel Tower which was built for the 1889 World Fair and aimed to showcase the structural performance and infinite possibilities of constructing with puddled iron - at the time a revolutionary new material and precursor of steel.

CPIT recently joined its architectural and engineering departments, which made perfect sense, Bologna said. “Part of the experience the students have during the third year is the cross collaboration with engineers in the early stage of design, so they work with structural engineers, mechanical engineers and even fire engineers. A key component is to understand where the engineer is coming from to develop good design.”

This approach has helped prepare the students for the industry. “They have developed the right attitude to working in the industry. It’s creative and fun, but it’s a million dollar industry so they have to understand the scale and seriousness of the projects they have designed.

“There is always more to learn in this industry and the students understand they have to keep on learning as the industry grows and evolves.”

EXIT is one of the first events in CPIT’s Creative Festival, which includes fashion catwalk show PITCH, live music concert BEAT, visual arts exhibition RIPE, APRA songwriting competition ON SONG, celebration of Maori culture HIHA and interior design exhibition VISUALISE from now to 3 December.

See http://www.cpit.ac.nz/news-and-events/upcoming-events/creative-festival

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