Have you ever considered what the year 2048 will hold? Students from Victoria University’s School of Architecture certainly have.
The typically inert campus came alive last Friday evening as teams from Vic, Auckland University and UNITEC competed in Australasian design contest Superstudio.
With only 24 hours to dream up what would become of petrol station sites in a world without oil, the 60 architecture undergraduates spent their time designing concepts such as the ‘surrogate traveller’, where people could explore different countries via flying devices on helium-mounted cameras: all without leaving home, of course.
Tutors were at hand for Saturday’s entirety to inspire and question each team’s model. The designs were presented by the students during the evening within a strict 200-second time limit. Included in the presentations were other entertaining concepts such as converting petrol stations into high-rise urban farms, and turning toxic human waste into fuel.
“The presentations were both impressive and hilarious,” Superstudio event organiser Anna Wallace said.
Two winning teams from Vic will compete again later this month in the Australasian finals. They are hoping that their super-studious efforts will secure them the top prize—return airfares to the Venice Architecture Biennale.