Oliver Higgins
Unitec
Oliver is a 4th-year Masters of Architecture student at Unitec who compiled his portfolio during a period of Covid-19 lockdown creativity. Oliver talks to us about how his travels (pre covid) have inspired his design style and how he use photographs to inform his work!
SANNZ: Hi Oliver, thank you for doing this interview. How would you describe your portfolio?
Oliver: Thank you for allowing me to share my passion for design! My portfolio is a cultivation of my interests in architecture, photography, and other mediums such as exhibitions and publications. I believe these all share themes and ideas, and showcase my development as a student and creative individual. I have always been fascinated by the concept of conveying emotions and feelings within design, digital art, and filmmaking, and believe this theme flows throughout my various works.
SANNZ: What led you to create your portfolio and at what point in your studies did you create it?
Oliver: During the first lockdown of COVID-19 I began to create my portfolio, as I was concerned in the market for architecture, and the potential of getting work in the field as a student with not too much experience. I then began to cultivate a few pieces of work that I was proud of, which I believe showcases the best of my abilities as a creative individual. I am always working to improve my work. I like to think of my portfolio as an outlet for my stress and anxiety of entering into a world I knew little about, and it gave me confidence as a student that I could at the very least, provide my passion and enthusiasm for design to potential employers.
Kiwi (sub)Urbanism: Re-thinking the kiwi suburb:
An intensive three week long studio project for a skinny townhouse (30x6m, 14m max height). I chose to investigate the combination of an Architectural studio and family dwelling and the implications and opportunities which came from the combination. I was particularly interested in the feeling of expansion and compression, and the light interaction which was affected by it.
Cliff House:
During the first lockdown of COVID-19, I found myself creating architectural briefs for myself, as I found I had so much time on my hands that I needed more work to sustain me. This design was influenced by sci-fi architecture and brutalism. I imagined this project being on an unknown planet, built into a cliff.
SANNZ: Photography works alongside your architecture work in your portfolio. Can you explain how this medium operates within your practice?
Oliver: I think of photography as a form of research and understanding of Architecture. It helps me to really analyze and understand the different features that I am interested in, by focusing on the details. I try to go out to the city or around my area when I have spare time with my Architecture buddies and we get to learn from everybody and their different perspectives, the things that we never would have seen had we been just shooting photos by ourselves!
SANNZ: Do you have a favourite design project that you have worked on so far, what made it so fulfilling?
Oliver: My favourite design project so far is the Kiwi (sub)Urbanism studio project. It was very challenging, as we had three weeks to design and produce the work required. The most fulfilling aspect was how I created a programme for the site. I envisioned myself living and working on the same area of land, and infused certain aspects of design and themes I was interested in. In essence, I was my own client- that was fulfilling.
Bridge House:
This is another brief which I created for myself during COVID-19 lockdown 1. I was deeply inspired by Japanese Row houses from the Japan trip in second year, and the interesting forms that can enhance the tight restrictions of the site. I experimented with concrete walkways over a central courtyard.
Situ-Slat Gallery:
Inspired by a few different typologies, this project was a play on materiality, both concrete and timber slats. I looked into both contemporary art galleries, as well as Icelandic architecture, with the usage of slats to create a more defined pattern and texture. This was also designed through COVID-19 lockdown 1.
SANNZ: What kept you going when COVID-19 struck and stopped you from studying on campus?
Oliver: A combination of reading, playing guitar and designing mini briefs for my portfolio definitely helped to keep me occupied. I essentially turned a situation which was extremely restricting into one which I thrived and used the time to my best advantage.
Asylum Publication:
I was fortunate to work alongside five other students in my second year, to produce a publication, Asylum. It is a collection of the best student work in the BAS and MARCP at Unitec. The name comes from the building where we studied until recently, being a mental asylum (Whau Lunatic Asylum).
SANNZ: Four years in, what is the best piece of feedback/advice you’ve been given during your time at architecture school?
Oliver: Cringe is good! When looking over past work, if you don't feel embarrassed or uncomfortable by it, you are doing something wrong. Whenever I experience cringe with looking over past work, I realise how far I've come. That concept can be applied to any area of life.
SANNZ: What are some differences you have observed between undergraduate and postgraduate?
Oliver: Not much really! Although there has been a big focus shift on getting ready to enter into the industry.
The Nakagin Capsule tower, by Kisho Kurokawa was a building I love and had the privilege to visit while on the Japan trip elective. To me, it represents the unyielding creativity fused with the concept of replacing capsules as they age, which is a more sustainable approach than tearing down a building. Unfortunately it has not passed the test of time, however I think it was an important building, if just to know what doesn’t work.
The Walt Disney Concert Centre, designed by Frank Gehry was a building I visited while in LA, on my trip home from Rural Studio- a design build program in rural Alabama. This building was very moving to experience, and when I walked around the back area within the courtyard, I noticed aspects of the design that I had never seen before. This photo is one of favorites, as it combines my passion for photography and the details of architectural design which moves me the most. In this case it was the light effects on the curving metal surface.
SANNZ: How does travel inform your approach to architecture?
Oliver: Being able to experience the vernacular architecture of different locations opens my mind to all of the different approaches to context around the world. It informs my approach to architecture by providing me with feelings and emotions that one experiences when going to unknown destinations. An architectural feature that developed from being in these situations is way finding, the skill of sharing directions intuitively, without the usage of signs and direct communication.
I took this in Kyoto, Japan. I traveled with various other students as part of an elective, to study the architecture and landscape architecture of Tokyo and Kyoto. The way the Silver Pavilion in Kyoto nestles itself into the garden as if the building was infused with nature strongly moved me, and influenced my approach for designing architecture.
SANNZ: Thank you for showing us a snapshot of your portfolio, where can we see more of your work?
Oliver: Thank you for the opportunity! More of my work can be found on Instagram or you can check out my digital portfolio.
Interview by Carys Collins
Photographs and work supplied by Oliver Higgins
