Summer Scholars Scheme

Over the summer the Faculty provides several scholarships to students, offering a unique opportunity for students to gain experience in research—with the added bonus of paid work over the summer trimester.

Summer Scholarship 2023/2024 applications are now open and close 4.30pm on 18th September.

Before applying, please read the Summer Scholars Scheme conditions to ensure that you are eligible to apply.

Students will be selected on the basis of academic merit, expertise in the research area, and recommendations from staff associated with the project.

Summer Scholarships for 2023/2024

Here is a list of the available projects for 2023/2024.

200—Developing a global catalogue of bio-material products

Interested in bio-materials and how they can help alleviate climate change? This summer scholarship is for research and development of a global catalogue of bio-material products for built environment, their analysis, and a design for a spatial display of a proportion of these products. It is part of a BRANZ Building Levy funded project which is a collaboration between our University, WAM and AUT. Project lead, Emina Petrovic, will be the main supervisor of the scholarship, but Maria Walker from WAM might also contribute to supervision. Selected summer scholar will be able to undertake research at Te Aro campus, but some remote work will also be possible.

201—Practices and meanings associated with kitchens

This summer scholarship is for research of historical and contemporary practices and meanings associated with kitchens, cooking and eating in New Zealand and throughout the world. It is part of a project titled ‘Developing aspirational change – better kitchen joinery outcomes for all,’ funded by the BRANZ Building Research Levy and developed in co-design partnership with the Master Joiners NZ, and co-design with a range of other stakeholders. Project lead, Emina Petrovic, will be the main supervisor of the scholarship, but Natasha Perkins might also contribute to supervision. Selected summer scholar will be able to undertake research at Te Aro campus, but some remote work will also be possible. Most of the work for this summer scholarship will operate on the intersections between social and architectural histories, and material culture and social practice theory investigations. Some attention will also be given to the evolution of kitchen design.

202—An analysis of kitchen joinery adaptability and ease of change

This summer scholarship is for research and an analysis of kitchen joinery adaptability and ease of change. It is part of a project titled ‘Developing aspirational change – better kitchen joinery outcomes for all,’ funded by the BRANZ Building Research Levy and developed in co-design partnership with the Master Joiners NZ, and co-design with a range of other stakeholders. Natasha Perkins will be the main supervisor of the scholarship, but Emina Petrovic might also contribute to supervision. Selected summer scholar will be able to undertake research at Te Aro campus, but some remote work will also be possible. This summer scholarship will investigate the historical and contemporary approaches to kitchen joinery adaptability and ease of change towards developing new, contemporary and conceivable future solutions which would allow for more durable and therefore more sustainable solutions.

203—Ministry of Works Architectural Legacy: Developing Targeted Histories of Buildings

Sponsored by WSP

WSP celebrated its 150th year in business in 2020 with a whakapapa back to the Public Works Department, Ministry of Works, Works Consultancy, Opus and now WSP. While there is a written history of the Ministry of Works with a predominant focus on infrastructure, there is less material on the architectural legacy of the last 143 years.

This proposed project is a continuation of very successful research in previous Summer Scholarships and studies buildings and infrastructure designed by the practice dating back to Old Government Buildings in the 1870’s. The successful applicant will work with the national architectural team including in-house heritage conservation specialists to produce a series of targeted histories and significance assessments for Ministry of Works’ Architectural Legacy projects. This would include all forms of the organisation from the original Public Works Department and then on through Ministry of Works, Works Consultancy and Opus.

204—Timber and its role in decarbonizing the design of Public Buildings

Sponsored by WSP

Overview of current timber structural systems used for recent commercial-scale buildings in NZ and in comparable countries abroad and the approach to decarbonisation of the building sector. Overview of emerging technologies and possible future trends in timber structures and their application in an architectural design response. Commentary on issues to consider in selection of timber structural systems e.g. architectural, seismic, acoustic and fire considerations.

205—Urban Greening Tool (UGT)

Sponsored by WSP

The Urban Greening Tool (UGT) has been developed by WSP from tools used globally to evaluate urban greening within projects in Aotearoa/New Zealand. This combines global standards for site and building design with our unique local needs, as well as evaluating carbon emissions and 50-year eCO2.

The tool is proposed to assist designers, clients, and councils in determining the appropriate provision of urban greening for projects by providing a scoring system. The system takes into account the size of the development versus the urban greening components to highlight where decreased greening or added value is being achieved. This tool allows designers to produce a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of greening within a project. It also shows the direct relationship between greening, carbon emissions and how to achieve net-zero 50-year eC02 horizontally through green surface cover types, material selections and space allocation. This tool can help to achieve project objectives through an integrated design process, from masterplanning right through to implementation, to create a successful, flourishing and resilient environment.

With preliminary research and development already having been progressed on this tool, we are looking for a suitable candidate to test, interrogate and validate the foundations of this tool.

206—He ara waiora: A Kaupapa Māori approach to designing an accessible wetlands walkway

Universal design is about making buildings and spaces accessible to all people, of all abilities, at any stage of life. This project weaves together research and design to imagine an accessible and inclusive wetlands walkway, designed for and with tāngata whaikaha (whānau with lived experience of disability).

Two summer scholarships are being offered for this project. The successful students will work collaboratively on the project alongside Dr James Berghan (nō Te Rarawa me Te Aupōuri) in Te Kura Waihanga (Wellington School of Architecture), and with tangata whenua living on the whenua where the walkway is to be located. You’ll explore elements of inclusive and accessible design, wānanga with tāngata whaikaha about their lived experiences and aspirations for the walkway and develop a range of conceptual design responses.

These scholarships are open to interested students of any year group. While primarily based in the School of Architecture, students from other degrees who are interested are also encouraged to apply. Our goal is that you are supported to learn, develop and practice Kaupapa Methodologies and research skills to set you up beyond the life of this project.

The successful students will need to be located in Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington for the majority of the scholarship period.

207—Facade design carbon emission trade-offs for concept design

Sponsored by Warren and Mahoney Architects

Warren and Mahoney Architects are looking for a motivated student of Building Science or Architecture who is committed to study at graduate level in 2024. The student will work alongside facade designers and a research supervision team embedded within a Warren and Mahoney studio. This will extend the award-winning research completed by a 2022/3 summer student.  The role involves modelling the energy performance and hence the operational carbon of real world case studies in different urban environments. The goal is to do the background performance simulations in different climates in order to measure the impact of climate, building geometry, solid to transparent ratios, facade assemblies, and orientation.

Contact

For further background on the scheme, contact Allison Kay.