School of Architecture supports sustainable building competition
With the help of Victoria University Master’s student Henry Dengate-Thrush, students from Clifton Terrace Model School have won first equal for their entry in the Genesis Energy SchoolGen Mean Green House Competition.
Year 5 to Year 10 students in New Zealand can enter the eco-friendly housing competition which challenges entrants to design a cutting-edge energy-efficient house which uses solar energy.
Henry, a student in the Master of Architecture programme at Victoria, attended the Wellington school and has been working with students on their project titled Super Solar House. He says he jumped at the opportunity to demonstrate the role architectural design has in creating energy efficient and environmentally responsible housing.
“I thought I could help teach the principles of environmentally friendly design, and I also believe there is a place for introducing architecture as a discipline at primary and intermediate levels.”
The students designed and built a model of the house, featuring double glazed floor to ceiling windows, solar-absorbent flooring, a green roof with overhang, solar panels and an eco-friendly garden.
Victoria University’s School of Architecture supported the students by providing materials for their project.
Katrina Laurie, Teacher at Clifton Terrace Model School, says energy efficiency is a very important part of their school and learning environment, and they have many initiatives that are student-led.
Henry was lucky to be introduced to architecture in his final year of intermediate, but the competition provides a hands-on and specific experience at a primary level. “Hopefully some of the students will now be aware of and interested in architectural practice as a potential course of study.”
The winning entry from the Clifton Terrace Model School (Year 8) can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUiFnT5UNds