Wikihouse / Open Source Building System

Filed under   Contributor// Date: 02 Sep 2015

Description

Wikihouse are challenging the way we build housing in the 21st century. They are developing a building system that focuses on the user, not profit. No longer treating public citizens as just consumers but instead producers. Providing people with the tools and making it easier to self-build sustainable, smart and affordable homes that are completely customizable for every user. They are doing this by developing an online platform that works as a vertical guide from acquiring land to assembling a house. Taking advantage of modern digital technologies like 3D printers, they are able to take the ‘too difficult’ out of self build and replace it with speed, quality and affordability.

Role

Working with WikihouseNZ I have volunteered by assisting with media and events. With my recent move to the UK I have joined the founding team where I have slotted into their community host role. The core team are focusing on developing the digital platform which supports the global chapters. My role is to engage the community that will give the concept life. Moderating the use of various platforms allows chapters and the community to learn from each other as well as share learnings back to the foundation.

FESTA / Festival of Transitional Architecture

Filed under   Contributor// Date: 18 Jul 2015

Description

FESTA responds to the conditions and possibilities of an extraordinary situation: after a devastating earthquake on 22 February 2011 and a swarm of seismic events in the months that followed, 80% of inner city Christchurch was demolished.*

A new culture dedicated to grassroots urban recovery has emerged in response to the challenge of reviving New Zealand’s second largest city. This movement has adopted the label ‘transitional’ to reflect the intention that these projects should not only offer immediate renewal but also inform and influence the long-term ‘permanent’ recovery of the city.*

*festa website

 

Role

In 2012 I had the privilege to be one of the sixteen contributors for the main event, LuxCity. I was paired up with an architecture studio made up of second year architecture students and we were given the theme ‘illusion’. I used my musical knowledge to bring in another element to the space.  The concept was to create a protest site in response to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority blueprint.

In the 2014 Festival I was invited back to contribute towards the main event, ‘CityUps’. This time each installation was created around a large scaffold frame. I joined up with an Auckland University group to develop a collaboration with their ‘Daze Maze concept’. We created individual stages placed at different points throughout the maze for musicians to perform on. Each performer was then amplified in a different part of the maze as well as having an acoustic presence in the immediate area of each performer’s stage. This created an interactive setting where the person would try to mix what they heard by being led around the space whilst exposing themselves to different sounds and images.

Rent Party Club / Nomadic music venue

Filed under   Personal// Date:

Description

After the Christchurch earthquakes many performance spaces were badly damaged and closed to the public which created a need for new performance space in the Garden City of New Zealand. RPC filled this need by providing local artist with a unique space to perform and exhibit their work. Although, with a slight difference, the venue didn’t exist, it simply moved every month to a new residential address where it was hosted by the homeowner or flat mates.

Role

My role was to arrange each show including artists to play at them, where it was, promoting it and working with residents to create a unique space.

The New York Project / CPIT Field Trip

Filed under   Personal// Date: 02 Jul 2015

Description

The New York Project was initiated to spark ambition, develop perspective and open minds amongst young musicians studying in Christchurch. A group of students studying at the CPIT Jazz School were given the opportunity to travel to the center of the jazz world, New York. Here they had a chance to see the rich history of jazz come to life as well as meet a number of individuals living and playing in the city. The chance to get private tutoring from the world’s greatest jazz players and visiting some of the top schools in the world was also on offer.

Role

I came up with the rather simple idea to make this thing happen. After gauging interest from students I then began to develop and execute an itinerary. This included liaising with schools, individuals based in New York and the students, to hear what they wanted to get out of the opportunity. Fundraising to help subsidize the trip was undertaken as a group activity.

Chambers Sessions / Music Event

Filed under   Personal// Date: 26 Jun 2015

Description

Chambers Sessions are new and unique to Christchurch, New Zealand, aiming to provide a distinct environment for local artists and musicians to showcase their work and talent. These events take place at Chambers241 Gallery, one evening a month after gallery hours. The event provide a select audience of 50 to 80 people with outstanding local music, at the same time improving the status, exposure and appreciation of local talent.

Role

For Chambers Sessions my role, along with Andrew Densem (fellow student during the sessions early years and friend) was to create the concept and deliver the project, calling on volunteer support as well as finding funding needed to keep the project alive. After Warren Feeney put a call out for people to approach the gallery in order to liven the vacant space outside of opening hours we approached him with the idea. Due to a lack of venues operating, the generous offer allowed us to realise our idea as the gallery provided the perfect listening environment. Once negotiated our role was to promote the sessions, fill the space with quality bands and a lively audience and make sure things ran smoothly.

Street Fashion Column / The Press, Fairfax Media

Filed under   // Date: 18 Jun 2015

Description

The Christchurch Press deliver a lifestyle, fashion magazine that comes out every Wednesday inside every copy of The Press. The most popular column in Zest is the street style column ‘What You Were Wearing’. The column features four well dressed people.

Role

Photograph and interview four different people on the streets of Christchurch. Stating where their clothes are from, what influences their style and how they describe their style.