Landscape Architecture exhibition showcased strongest work in years

The annual exhibition publicly displayed the work of final-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture students, who were tasked with redesigning a space in New Zealand and creating a comprehensive plan to change it.

About 440 people attended this year’s display, called the Synergy Exhibition, which featured work from 23 students. The student-led exhibition, which is held in a different location each year, was in the new Papa Hou building in Christchurch.

School of Landscape Architecture Associate Professor Gill Lawson said the standard of work was the highest achieved in years.

The impressive quality of the work was remarked upon by the external registered landscape architects who examined the works during the presentation stage, she said.

“Each year the End-of-Year Exhibition becomes more and more professional.”

“This year we saw less attention given to health and wellbeing projects as Covid-19 becomes less defining for students and more attention placed on projects with a strong environmental focus again.

“Disaster mitigation was at the forefront for some projects such as for Motueka, Franz Josef and Castle Hill Village.

“A few projects also tackled the wicked problems of urban spawl, densification and living in a future-focused Christchurch city and its peri-urban areas.”

Exhibition co-organiser Andre Dearsly described the atmosphere of the opening night as “electric”.

“All of the students expressed a sense of pride and accomplishment as they showcased their work.

“Many felt a strong connection to their projects when they were all hung up and we really appreciated the opportunity to listen to people’s questions and show off our work.”

180 people attended the opening night. A further 125 visited on Friday and 138 on Saturday.

SoLA Head of School Andreas Wesener said he loved seeing how many people attended the opening night.

Families attended alongside students and many industry representatives came to see the work and talk to students.

“This is a really important networking event for our students, and some of them might have negotiated future jobs.

“Many of our students will enter the workforce as landscape architects. They deal with the mitigation of climate change effects, such as designing for more resilient coastal areas in the context of sea-level rise and flooding, or developing more sustainable urban design and transport solutions.

“They address the big problems of our time.”

The event was sponsored by many local businesses and organisations, such as Morgan+Pollard Landscapes, Rough Milne Mitchell Landscape Architects, New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects, and Athfield Architects.