Architecture has gone from design in an office to experimentation and teamwork in a studio at The University of Queensland.
UQ’s School of Architecture has been launched to co-incide with $3.2 million in renovations at the Zelman Cowen Building.
Head of School Dr John Macarthur said the renovation, designed by Donovan Hill, featured open plan spaces with good lighting and a relaxed feeling.
The spaces felt more like labs than classrooms or offices, leading to change in the way students approached their work, Dr Macarthur said.
“A studio is more like a laboratory for experimenting with ideas than an office where written work is done,” he said.
The studio helped students feel comfortable and encouraged teamwork, Dr Macarthur said.
“Architecture is about collaboration. We need spaces where people can work together for long times.
“Colleagues in architecture work together for six to eight hours at a time, so we don’t need small spaces for that.”
Up to 110 students used the spaces at peak times, with room for them to draw plans, make models and complete calculations.
Fifth-year architecture student Vinko Grgic said working in the new spaces was preferable to small classrooms.
“It is nicer because you work in an open space with everyone. It feels like you are more involved with other people,” Mr Grgic said.
Dr Macarthur said the school grew from the former School of Geography, Planning and Architecture.
“UQ has made the unusual decision to make small school focused around a single discipline because it gives us the flexibility to develop design studios around issues in the profession, in research and in relation to real world problems.”
Media: Erik de Wit (3346 7086, 0417 496 397).
