NEW DESIGN STUDIOS OPENED BY JOHN KEYView GalleryHide Gallery

In a dramatic theatrical event on Tuesday 6 October, Prime Minister John Key officially opened the new Design Wing at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, the learning place of the theatre and screen designers of the future. The Bachelor of Design for stage and screen at Toi Whakaari is the only course of its kind in New Zealand. 

The new design wing contains three purpose built design studios, providing a separate studio for each year of students. The gorgeous new studios were designed by Aonui Architects in conjunction with the Design department of Toi Whakaari and Te Whaea Services and take advantage of the fantastic views northeast towards the city and harbour. Each studio has opening windows, plenty of natural light, running water, and the large box window which runs down the front of the building creating a lot of interest. In addition, a new Props Workshop has been created giving the design, costume and technical students a “dirty” area so they do not need to use their studios for messy work.

Not only have the architectural features of the original building been incorporated into the new design wing, but also in an exhibition space that has been created on the upper level of the studios. This allows design work to be creatively displayed, an important part of the design process and gives the students an opportunity to show examples of the wide range of work covered in the degree.