Sydney students awarded 2019 MADE by the Opera House scholarships
Left to right: Tom Dufficy (University of Newcastle), Billie-Grace Dunk (University of Sydney), Nicholas Bucci (University of Sydney), Jack Jeffries (University of Technology Sydney) and Josephine Nicholas (University of Sydney). Photo: Jaqcuie Manning
The Sydney Opera House has announced the Australian students selected for the 2019 MADE by the Opera House scholarship, the international exchange that extends architect Jørn Utzon's collaborative approach to architecture, engineering and design.
Each year, MADE by the Opera House provides five Australian and five Danish students the opportunity to work on a multidisciplinary project and undertake a study tour in each other’s country.
Our students will travel to Denmark next January to take part in a collaborative six-week project that brings together the key disciplines that combine to create the World Heritage masterpiece.
“Multidisciplinary work is a major element of a career in the design industry and learning communication, management and team work skills across various disciplines is incredibly valuable,” explains Billie-Grace Dunk, who is studying a Master of Architectural Science (Audio and Acoustics) in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning.
“This program aids that learning process and will expose us to a wider industry of professionals where we are able to learn more about finer elements of working in a multidisciplinary environment.”
In addition to promoting cross-disciplinary interaction between students of architecture, engineering and design (of the built environment), MADE also fosters closer cultural links between Denmark and Australia.
Nicholas Bucci, currently completing a Master of Architecture in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, is particularly passionate about Danish design and is looking forward to the opportunity to explore and interrogate Jorn Utzon's design principles in detail.
“There are many lessons we can learn from studying a masterpiece like the Opera House and a lot that can be reinterpreted and integrated into the buildings we design for the future,” says Nicholas.
“I'm interested in buildings that are able to inspire people and bring them together. For me, the MADE program will be a great opportunity to continue pursuing these ideas and a platform to share those ideas with people beyond the architectural community.”
Last year’s corresponding program included two finalists from the University of Sydney.
Unbeknownst to either, the experiences and project work both undertook would ultimately serve as the catalyst behind 2019 scholarship recipient Josephine Nicholas’ decision to apply.
“Viewing the 2018 Australian team’s presentation was empowering and sparked in me a desire to take part in such a project,” says Josephine, a fourth-year Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Civil) and Bachelor of Design in Architecture student from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
“This opportunity will allow me the chance to combine my backgrounds in civil engineering and architecture design and make significant contributions to my overall professional development.
The students will be placed in various engineering and architecture firms to work in a collaborative team on a multidisciplinary project.
“We look forward to seeing this next group of aspiring Australian architects, engineers and designers in full flight – engaging with a carefully crafted challenge based on the Utzon Design Principles while working in Denmark,” says Caroline Grandjean-Thomsen, MADE project coordinator from the Sydney Opera House.
“Here’s to the creation of astonishing, cross-disciplinary solutions – just as Utzon, Arup and others did to create our amazing Opera House.”
