Briar Sutherland
Unitec
NOT LONG TO GO! Congratulations to all the 5th year Masters students of Unitec, the hand in for their written thesis is now complete! Less than a month remains for Briar Sutherland until her final critique for 2016, and architecture school. Read on to find out what unexpected direction Briar’s final year at architecture school has taken and what she is planning next…
Student Architecture Network New Zealand: Can you tell us what your thesis is about? Where did it all begin?
Briar Sutherland: My thesis, ‘Muddy Waters’, explores how architecture can re-engage a local community with a long disused and forgotten estuarine environment. I hope that this project will prove a template to refocus and re-orientate the public’s largely passive engagement with Auckland’s waterways back to seeing water, as a living and vital element. The project explores Te Whau estuary in West Auckland. The estuary, once heavily used for industry and habitation, is rich in history, but over time has been deserted and forgotten. The project looks at designing a bridge with a public pool attached which connects the two sides of the estuary.
SANNZ: When you did you decide on this direction for your Master’s thesis?
Briar: Probably half way through last year. Initially I started off looking at housing and façade design and now I am on a completely different track. I think it was because there is a high probability of working on housing at some point in my life so I thought why not do something I am truly passionate about and will love doing for the rest of the year.
SANNZ: Has the direction of your thesis been clear from the beginning, due to your passion for the topic? If not how has it changed?
Briar: My thesis has taken so many different twists and turns from where it started at the beginning of this year. Now I am focusing my work on a polluted estuary; when I started to explore this project I was thinking of a coastal site with clean water and beautiful views.
SANNZ: How would you describe your ‘style’ of architecture, decision making/planning and presenting?
Briar: My style of presentation is very graphically oriented and I like clean, simple design. I love to do hardline drawings by hand and then manipulating them with Photoshop to give texture and depth. My style has really changed from what it used to be earlier this year, and I really like it — it’s much more engaging and dimensional than the flat computer renders I used to produce. And of course, there are the mountains of models and scribbled sketches (which only I can understand!). In terms of architectural style, it really lends itself to angular or rectilinear forms with a real interest into façade design. I’m particularly interested in how light interacts with a building and the forms one can create with a façade.
SANNZ: What are your plans for next year?
Briar: I think immediately after I have my final crit, I am going to take a bit of time to relax considering that after this hand-in I will be in much need of a break. It’s been a HUGE year. However, after that I am hoping next year I will be successful in my job search and will be working with an Auckland-based architectural firm.
We look forward to catching up with Briar after her final critique. Good luck to all the Master’s students across the country in your final weeks + months!
