Tina Williams

Victoria University of Wellington

Pulling her away from her large painting (or is it a drawing?) we asked Victoria University of Wellington student Tina Williams how her thesis is going so far… And by the sound of it it’s going rather well, taking unexpected directions along the way and leading her ever so slightly closer to her dream of going to Antarctica.

Student Architecture Network New Zealand: Can you briefly explain what your thesis is about?
Tina Williams: A shipping terminal/museum hybrid in Lyttelton that comments on New Zealand nationality in relation to Antarctica. To do this I mainly want to interrogate representation of memory and representation itself within this, but it probably won’t stop there…

SANNZ: Who is your supervisor and why did you choose to work with him/her?
Tina: Peter Wood — I think because of his unrelenting honesty about architecture. He doesn’t seem afraid to go against the grain which seems to have resulted in some very unique ideas on his part. I was told he was one of the few people who didn’t like the Auckland Art Gallery extension, you know — the one that won all those awards. I respect that and have to say, I agree. 

SANNZ: When you started your Master’s just over a year ago, did you think your thesis would take this direction?
Tina: I’ve only been doing this for a couple of months and it’s already taken a direction I didn’t expect and I love that.

SANNZ: What are your plans for next year?
Tina: I want to get into practice but I also want to keep myself involved in academia even if it’s only self-directed. Oh, and I want to visit Antarctica.

SANNZ: Do you feel that architecture school has prepared you for the realities of working in the industry?
Tina: I think school both has and hasn’t prepared us for practice. I know how to do technical stuff and trawl through code, but that stuff’s easy to pick up and firms usually have their own way of doing things so it’s impossible to prepare for. I think it’s good that that hasn’t been the main focus of our education. Academia may not prepare us for the realities of practice but that’s good because it seems as though it’s something that is missing from practice. We need to think for ourselves critically if we want to improve the profession rather than being trained to be glorified draftsmen.

SANNZ: Do you work while studying?
Tina: No, I tried it last year and it didn’t work.

SANNZ: What music or artist has helped you get through architecture school?
Tina: I use Pandora so it comes up with some random stuff I can’t name. Usually artists like The Strokes, The Fratellis, Broken Bells, etc. I tried classical music for a bit but it was much too calming. Deathklok, The Dethalbum, works much better.

SANNZ: What coffee has fuelled your degree?
Tina: Unfortunately I’m one of the few that drink tea. Earl Grey and Jasmine are my favourites — black, no sugar.

SANNZ: Where are you from? What’s your opinion of the architecture or built environment there?
Tina: I’m from Levin, it’s very barren in terms of architecture. Mainly spec homes and fields.

SANNZ: What keeps you occupied outside of study?
Tina: Chinese calligraphy, Aikido, anime.  

SANNZ: If you could invite two architects to dinner with you, who would they be?
Tina: Lina Bo Bardi & Kengo Kuma

SANNZ: What do you enjoy most about architecture school? Or, what will you miss the most about architecture school when you leave?
Tina: Studio, and the freedom to explore something too theoretical.

SANNZ: Can you name a highlight from your time at architecture school?
Tina: No, it’s the small insignificant moments that have made this place fun.

SANNZ: If you could design a building anywhere in New Zealand, what type would it be and where?
Tina: I’m going to cheat and say a shipping terminal/museum in Lyttelton — it is my thesis after all.

SANNZ: How do you ‘switch’ your brain off after a long day at uni?
Tina: I’m not sure i do.

SANNZ: How do you feel about potentially moving into a 40-hour work week.
Tina: A 40-hour week seems like it’ll be relaxing.