Honest and natural - Shane Annabell
In a recent busy week, Shane Annabell managed just four hours sleep a night, but it’s a sacrifice the second year architecture student is happy to make.
“No matter how much work and planning you do in advance, giving your assignment those final touches often seems to require an all-nighter.”
The effort pays off for Shane, whose high grades contributed to him winning a $5,000 Alumni Appeal Scholarship.
Both Shane’s grandfathers were draughtsmen and at a young age he set his heart on following in their footsteps.
An after-school job at Ethan Outdoor Furniture in his home city of Whanganui was another formative influence, as it gave him an appreciation of timber as a building material.
“I love using wood, leaving it as it is and emphasising its natural beauty.”
He also prefers ‘honest’ design. “I don’t hide things in my buildings. If a roof needs a truss I would rather leave it exposed so people understand how the building works.”
Although Shane says drawing by hand remains the preferred method at Victoria’s School of Architecture, working on a computer comes naturally to him.
“The Architecture School is incredibly open-minded and has allowed me to spend a lot of time exploring digital design.”
Shane is using his scholarship funds to help cover study and living costs, and is enjoying having a bit more financial independence. “It’s good to know I am on the way to supporting myself.”
Alumni Appeal scholarships are generously funded by Victoria University graduates in New Zealand and abroad. They are awarded on academic merit and financial need.