Student Notes

Modern life demands and is waiting for a new kind of plan, both for the house and for the city…. There exists a new spirit. … —Le Corbusier.

This new spirit has been busily occupied in the studio since the opening of the term. Testimony of Study programmes from Auckland University College were received, discussed, and disposed of within a fortnight, and design problems of “esquisses” were tackled over the next two weeks. Problems centring round the Te Aro project were done, and a variety of other subjects, including a study of window functions, a standardized bus shelter, a trade-mark for the New Zealand Federation of Co-ops, who are to use the winning design as their emblem. The two-week break did a great deal to lessen the eight-scale twitch (which generally develops after three weeks or so of juggling with sketch plans). At least it was hidden as students let their hair down on subjects where they could use a thick crayon and lots of colour. In fact the freedom of design and presentation exhibited in the “esquisse” drawings proved that the brief change was a good idea.

As for Testaments of Study, it may be said that the inevitable closing date flap did not have quite the air of desperate pencil palsy that has been so common in previous years. The thought that you were able to call on your own studio instructor for advice was almost like a blood transfusion. It is evident, too, that the practice of designing with scale and tee-square has gone overboard. Studio work has encouraged much more freedom of design, the quick freehand sketch superseding the laboured drawing. The old problem of filling the vast white double elephant does not seem to matter so much. Let us hope that the higher standard is reflected in the number and grade of passes this year.