Bar Code opens at Britomart

Media release
31 August 2006

University of Auckland’s Bar Code opens at Britomart

If you fancy spending an evening surrounded by innovative architectural installations, pop down to Britomart on Friday 8 September.

That’s where students from The University of Auckland have spent the past six weeks creating the Bar Code, an initiative involving the School of Architecture and Planning from the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries (NICAI), and Auckland Architecture Week (AAW).

Part of the University’s contribution to AAW, the project is a collaboration between the School of Architecture and Planning, the Dance Studies Programme, and AUT’s Department of Spatial Design. Auckland City Council and Bluewater management group (the developers of the Britomart project) are also involved. Bar Code is in line with the goal of the NZ Institute of Architects (host of AAW) to get more people interested in architectural issues.

“We want to focus on left-over, forgotten or changing public places and to re-present them to Aucklanders in a creative way,” explains Uwe Rieger, a senior lecturer in the School of Architecture. “The Bar Code Project will generate new ways of understanding city spaces, by building architectural structures, or ‘follies’, that capture the public imagination. Like the unique pattern of every barcode, each installation will have an identity of its own.”

Bar Code participants are based at the former Stanbeth Art Gallery on Customs Street. After the launch on 8 September, students will return to their respective Schools and studio units to develop a design project based on the outcome of their work and the event at Britomart.

Bar Code is offered as a Design Studio paper for 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th year students.

Auckland Architecture Week runs from September 6-13.

The Bar Code celebration kicks off on Friday, 8 September at 7pm at the former Stanbeth Art Gallery (26 Customs Street). It runs for one night only.

ENDS

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