Guest experts inspire ESTEAM students in ‘Re-imagined Spaces’ project
As part of our ESTEAM programme’s ‘Reimagined Spaces’ project, students are working in teams to re-envision a real-world site on Auckland’s North Shore with the goal of transforming it into a space that better serves the local community. Sustainability, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness are key themes in the project, with students researching public needs, engaging with professionals, and designing creative proposals informed by real-world constraints and opportunities.
In alignment with our STEAM programme’s goal of integrating different learning areas in authentic, real-world applications, the project combines several standards across multiple subjects. Each student pair is completing a Horticulture standard (developing a landscape plan for their proposed space), an Art standard (designing a sculpture or creative structure to feature in their re-imagined site), and an Education for Sustainability standard (creating a strategic plan to address a relevant local issue their project responds to).
To help guide their thinking, the class has welcomed a number of guest speakers with firsthand experience in designing and managing public spaces.
We were pleased to welcome Travis Committee, Parks and Community Facilities Programme Manager for Upper Harbour and Hibiscus and Bays. Travis shared insights into how Auckland Council plans and delivers outdoor spaces, offering a ground-level view of the design and construction process. He gave a behind-the-scenes look at the newly completed Harvest Ave Playground in Ōrewa, helping students see how ideas are turned into tangible outcomes.
Councillor Richard Hills (North Shore Ward) gave students a higher-level perspective on public space development. He spoke about the journey from concept to community, highlighting the importance of local engagement and political advocacy. His discussion of major projects such as the Quay Street Te Wānanga waterfront upgrade and Hurstmere Road in Takapuna gave students a sense of how large-scale urban projects take shape.
Later in the term, we were fortunate to host a combined presentation from three more key figures in local development: Melissa Powell (Chairperson, Devonport-Takapuna Local Board), George Wood (Board Member), and Tracy Ogden-Cork, a landscape architect with Auckland Council. They introduced students to the soon-to-be-opened dragon-themed destination playground at Knightsbridge Reserve, Forrest Hill, and explored the ways council uses community feedback to inform public space design – from survey data to on-the-ground conversations.
In Term 3, we look forward to welcoming Drina Paratene of Ngāti Pāoa, who will bring a vital cultural lens to our project. She will speak about Māori iconography, wildlife, and the significance of our project sites from a tangata whenua perspective. As we’ve learned from our speakers so far, meaningful consultation with local iwi is an essential part of creating inclusive and sustainable spaces for the future.
We are deeply grateful to all of our guest speakers for sharing their time, insights, and professional experiences with our students. Their contributions have brought real-world relevance to the project and opened students’ eyes to a range of career pathways in design, planning, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
The project will culminate in Term 4 with our ESTEAM Expo – a public showcase of student work and ideas. Anyone interested in attending the expo and celebrating the creativity and critical thinking of our students is warmly invited to contact Head of STEAM, Mr Jono Howan, for more information.
