The Studio in the Headlands

Abstract

There is a prominent disconnect between the various faculties within the current university setting; therefore, the potential of interdisciplinary learning has become near impossible. The Studio in the Headland is a speculative body of work that seeks to improve upon architectural pedagogy, driven by the methods of Live Projects. This project takes place upon a headland, a reserve within the Anawhata region, which embodies a rich untold history and uniquely connects to the University of Auckland. In 1926, university students acquired a section to call their own. They made refuge on the edge of a cliff, and it became a common ground for students and teachers from various faculties to use and enjoy our coastal backyard. Today the section is barren due to the fire that engulfed the hut in 1998, leaving this educational time spent on the University Reserve to recede into the past. This thesis draws upon the site’s notable history of how the construction of architecture became a mechanism that brought students of a similar passion together and created an inspiring common ground. The life within The Studio in the Headland is an immersion of ‘learning by doing’ and endeavours to continue the students’ legacy achieved many years ago. It encourages the exchange of knowledge between various students, the community, the land, and the architecture, a place where learning can extend beyond the parameters of the classroom, shifting towards a more haptic and hands-on methodology. My thesis question is: “How can architecture be used to re-establish this university owned reserve, while simultaneously creating a platform for experiential learning and collaboration between students?”