Alicia Andrewes

A Collaborative Art Studio in Newmarket

The Creative Co-Lab is a collaborative art studio located in Newmarket that symbolises the bridge between undergraduate and postgraduate life for designers. The intention behind the studio is to create an inspiring space that will encourage creativity and support the development of academic and/or personal projects. By promoting collaboration and idea-sharing, the space aims to spark innovation and make the creative process more engaging and productive. The idea behind the concept of the space of being a bridge is the way that the space will help designers continue with their creativity by providing shared access to specialist machines and tools that we have learnt to use and utilise while completing our degrees. It will also show how workshops/activities can blend into more commercial “grown-up” environments. This idea of blending and bridging is shown within the physical layout and flow of the space. From the site at 302 Broadway in Newmarket, I noticed how the surrounding environment felt very busy, fast-paced, and commercial, as it's a popular area in Auckland. I wanted to focus on how to blend these ideas from outside the site with the activities occurring within this workshop, as it becomes more relaxed and focused for the users of the studio. The blend also shows how different types of design and art can come together and overlap, making the space collaborative and open, so users can socialise and communicate while navigating the space.