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The Breezeway

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A fourth-year independent studio project at Victoria University of Wellington, with the brief of researching a sustainable practice topic and translating it into a self-directed semester-long design proposal.

            The Breezeway project began as a re-design of Victoria University’s Te Aro Campus's third level, where the challenge was to rethink a dense academic environment while aiming for LEED accreditation. I started by listening to the users: a survey of over 60 students revealing frustrations with the existing studios and aspirations for brighter, more flexible, and more collaborative spaces. These insights shaped a new framework of space typologies and personas that guided multiple test fits and program studies.
​As the work developed, the project expanded beyond the studio floor. An overlooked breezeway and adjacent alleyway became the focus for a broader vision: transforming underused circulation into a social connector that could link campus life with the surrounding city. This shift reframed the design not just as an interior upgrade but as an activation strategy that integrated sustainability, culture, and community.

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above shows 5 different iterations for the outdoor box, the building and the breezeway concepts

This project demonstrates a research-led design process, moving from survey design and data analysis through to test-fit modeling and LEED framework integration. It required translating both qualitative insights and sustainability metrics into spatial strategies while remaining flexible to reframe the scope mid-project. By combining structured analysis with iterative design exploration, I was able to link environmental performance with user experience and community engagement, showing how design can operate as both evidence-driven and speculative.
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