Travelling Studio Tuhoe (New Zealand) (ABPL90410)

Travelling studios are working laboratories for design thought and production, and involve the exploration of complex, real-life issues. They expose students to unfamiliar cultures, places and people, and stimulate their ability to think creatively and solve problems. These studios aim to bring together students from architecture, urban design, landscape and planning streams and encourage an interdisciplinary focus. Pre-trip briefings or seminars will precede the travel component of the studio. The studio will incur travel costs, in addition to tuition fees. Faculty subsidies will, however, be available.

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SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVELLING STUDIO TUHOE (NEW ZEALAND)

This studio brings together students of the University of Melbourne (Melbourne School of Design, Office of Environmental Programs) and the University of Victoria Wellington (School of Architecture) to explore indigenous knowledge systems (specifically, that of the Tūhoe tribe) and their capacity to inform and inspire new design processes. The studio will explore how cross-cultural knowledge systems can deliver new approaches to regenerative development, including understanding how Tūhoe perspectives of place and kinship can offer new approaches to our global-local environmental challenges. This is a critical question for considering the decolonisation of our practices as designers and one that begins to question the political process and internalisation of colonialist mindsets and ‘norms’ for the co-creation of our thriving future.

The Tūhoe traditional homeland Te Urewera, situated in the eastern North Island of New Zealand, is a densely forested mountain area with fertile river plains to the north and west, and pristine lakes to the south.  Te Urewera is an entity which has been granted legal personhood, holding rights and responsibilities equivalent to a person. During your visit to this lush environment, you will have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Tūhoe history, language, culture and place. You will be hosted by local tribal communities to learn Tūhoe values and how this plays a major role across traditional and contemporary tribal life. This will include working with Tūhoe governance systems, community members and stakeholders to consider design proposals that engage with local opportunities. You will have the opportunity to respond to a number of proposed reinvigoration projects and community facilities within the villages (e.g. wellness centres, recycling and repurposing facilities, workshops, playgrounds and other recreation facilities, art galleries, Living Building Challenge home designs, village layouts, food production gardens, orchards and other landscaping). 

APPROXIMATE COSTS

Return Flights: $700
Tūhoe accommodation, food and transfers: $700
Local Travel: $100
Accommodation in Wellington and Taupo: $100
Food and other living expenses: $300

Note: Prices listed are subject to change. Participating students will receive a one-off subsidy of $800 from the Faculty utilised towards student’s accommodation costs and may be eligible to receive a one off payment of up to $1,000 from Melbourne Global Mobility (conditions apply).

CREDIT

This travelling studio can count as credit towards your course in one of the categories listed below:

• Master of Architecture: ABPL90142 (Master of Architecture Studio C), ABPL90143 (Master of Architecture Studio D), ABPL90115 (Master of Architecture Studio E), Architecture elective, or multidisciplinary elective
• Master of Architectural Engineering: ABPL90142 (Master of Architecture Studio C)
• Master of Landscape Architecture: ABPL90072 (Landscape Studio 5: Sustainable Urbanism), Landscape Architecture elective or multidisciplinary elective
• Master of Urban Design multidisciplinary elective

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For further information please check the following link: https://edsc.unimelb.edu.au/graduate/subject-options/travelling-studios