Jack O’Neill
Unitec
In this week’s SUYT post from Unitec we hear from Jack O’Neill about his research into dementia and how architecture could offer an improvement to the lives of sufferers. Read on below…
Student Architecture Network New Zealand: Can you tell us what your thesis is about?
Jack O’Neill: My thesis focuses on people with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and how currently the hospitals and rest homes that cater to these people are all pretty terrible in New Zealand. I’m interested in providing a more fulfilling life for people living with these diseases through architecture. I’ve been looking into Alzheimer’s a lot and things like ‘inherent familiarity’, how far back does it go? How does Alzheimer’s affect perception? And how can this inform architecture.
SANNZ: Why did you choose this topic?
Jack: My Grandmother lived with Alzheimer’s for fifteen years; my Grandpa is living with it now. There is this idea that it’s the end of your life, which is more society’s concept rather than the reality of the disease. 40,000 people have Alzheimer’s disease in New Zealand, by 2030 this is predicted to increase to 70,000 and we talk of euthanasia as a solution, that’s 70,000 people we want to euthanise?? We should be approaching this differently, taking the people into account rather than just offering a functional solution and give people an option on the sort of care facility they want to live in rather than just whichever one is closest.
SANNZ: When you did you decide on this direction for your Master’s thesis?
Jack: Definitely by the middle of fourth year. I started being interested in architecture and death, which is pretty macabre but is probably what also drew me to this topic.
SANNZ: What are your plans for next year?
Jack: I’m moving to Berlin in August, that’s the only thing I’m sure on.
SANNZ: Do you work while studying/how many hours?
Jack: My Dad’s an architect so I’ve worked for him up until this year. This year I just do some contract work for him, which I can do from my desk in studio, as well as tutor first year students in architectural representation and studio classes. The hours vary depending on what is happening in class, they could range from four hours in a slow week to say, twenty during crit week.
SANNZ: How did you get the job as a tutor at Uni?
Jack: I was told I just needed to ask so I actually just approached Krystina (the head lecturer for the Arch Rep class) and got the job.
SANNZ: What do you enjoy most about architecture school? Or, what will you miss the most about architecture school when you leave?
Jack: It’s like a feeling… I love this place but I hate it. The freedom is pretty awesome, be whoever you want whenever you want… Moments of freedom, like when you come into Uni in your summer holidays to fit out your studio space because this is where you’re going to be living for the next year and no one bats an eye. Or you’ve been here for 5 days straight literally living here. I mean is this a degree or is this school camp? I’m cooking scrambled eggs for eight people on the morning of someones crit… We’re all the sharing the same shower, someone stole my towel, I’m strung out on coffee and too many cigarettes, but my god I love this place. Feels like school camp, it’s fucking fun.
SANNZ: What is your fuel of choice?
Jack: Coffee, protein shakes and beer.
SANNZ: What do you do in your free time?
Jack: What is ‘free time’? Lately I’ve been on Shaun Goddard’s support team leading up to his crit… I don’t really know what I do anymore, hang out with the same people I see all the time at Uni? I spend all my time with these people. I love hanging out here, it’s a second home.
