Sherydan Howard

Experiencing architecture through publication design

Nga Wai Hono, also known as the WZ building, is a cornerstone building within AUT’s City Campus and the home of the Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences. The building acts as a confluence, a flowing together of two or more streams, bringing together students from many disciplines across AUT and the neighbouring universities and is a prime place of learning. Designed by Jasmax and completed in 2018, Nga Wai Hono was intended as a space where both collaborative and isolated study is welcomed.

EXPSD is an interactive publication that highlights the architectural design of Nga Wai Hono. The publication is carefully crafted using photography, layout and materials to portray the atmosphere of the building. My objective is to take the reader on a journey through the space without stepping foot inside, and to highlight certain elements that might not be visible at first glance to regular visitors. The book holds three editorial voices: the first being the voice of theory; information from articles and journalists commenting on the building's architectural qualities. The second is the voice of education, recorded from AUT's architecture students who are learning from the building. Lastly, the voice of the building is shown through the visual elements and textural materials enclosed within the publication.