Current Team

Pedersen Zari is the Primary Investigator of the Marsden project NUWAO (Nature-based Urban design for Wellbeing and Adaptation in Oceania) and Principle Investigator in Aotearoa BiodiverCITY, part of the People, Cities and Nature research programme.

Tēna koutou katoa. He uri tenei nō Ngati Pakehā, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, me Ngai Te Rangi hoki. I tipu ake au I raro I te maru o Rangitoto. No Tāmaki ahau. Kei Kaipātiki ahau e noho ana i tēnei wa. Ko Sibyl Bloomfield tōku ingoa. He Kaihoahoa me Kaiako whenua au.

Sibyl is a Landscape Architect and Senior Lecturer at Huri Te Ao Hoahoanga – School of Future Environments, Auckland University of Technology, AUT – with over 10 years teaching experience in Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

Thesis Working Title: ‘Plants of Place’ – (Re)Planting our natural heritage in urban Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
Supervisors: Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Ocean Mercier, and Joanna Meerwood-Salisbury.

Maria is teaching fellow in landscape architecture at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Her research examines the benefits of prioritising plants that naturally occurred in an area in the past in urban public places in Aotearoa New Zealand.  She is particularly interested in the significance of plants for Māori and other Indigenous Peoples, planting design, natural heritage, urban design and cultural landscapes. She continues to teach studio and lecture courses in the landscape programme at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. 

Thesis Research Question: How can facade adaptations be applied in order to meet the needs of a growing urban environment faced with climate change?
Supervisors: Sibyl Bloomfield, Maibritt Pedersen Zari

Saving Face: Future proofing Tamaki Makaurau through facade adaption

Bio: My name is Cosmo Bloor, I am in my fifth year of study at AUT. I have always been interested in design and creating things as a child and now I can apply these drawing and making skills into a constructive methodology. I like to work tactically with model making, testing out ideas and materials. I also have a love for the vivid scenery that Aotearoa provides us, and I enjoy drawing connections from nature into my work.  

Research Description: For my masters thesis I wanted to work in a field of study which could be used in the future within my own practice. I am interested in the future and ways in which architecture can shape and improve our day to day lives, while also creating positive feedback loops within the environment. I am especially interested in shaping the future of our cities through integrating greenery with architectural interventions. 

Thesis Research Question: How can biophilic principles be integrated into the design of hospitals to optimise the experience of New Zealanders in geriatric and psychogeriatric wards?
Supervisors: Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Sibyl Bloomfield

Thesis Research Question: How can architecture provide urban acupuncture points to regenerate the environment through community involvement?
Supervisors: Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Sibyl Bloomfield

Positionality Bio: I am Jaden Fernandes, I immigrated to Aotearoa in 2016 with my family. I was born and raised in the bustling city of Mumbai. Auckland was a real culture shock for us, and every day has been a new learning experience. Having spent time in two drastically different cities, I want to understand the city better and help create a better environment for us to live in. I am now in my final year as a Master of Architecture (Professional) student, and I am curious about regenerating urban areas and their impact on people. Building a thriving ecosystem and connecting communities. Green infrastructure is lacking in Auckland, especially in the city centre. I aim to build a network of green spaces throughout the city with the help of local communities.

Thesis Research Question: 
Supervisors: Sibyl Bloomfield, Maibritt Pedersen Zari

Positionality Bio 

Research Description 

Thesis Research Question: How can architectural strategies minimise disaster impact, facilitate rapid recovery, and enhance long-term resilience in vulnerable communities?
Supervisors: Sibyl Bloomfield, Maibritt Pedersen Zari

Positionality Bio: I am Rita Lai, an Aotearoa-born Taiwanese and a 5th Year Master of Architecture student. Passionate about exploring and observing cities, I am especially drawn to historical buildings, imagining the lives of those who once inhabited them. I also enjoy walking in lush, tranquil settings that foster a deep connection to nature. As I navigate different landscapes, I reflect on how elements interact and shape the world around us, shaping my perspective as a designer.le with nature. 

Research Description: My research explores the role of architecture in disaster response and long-term resilience, focusing on regions vulnerable to environmental challenges. I aim to investigate how architectural strategies can minimise damage, accelerate recovery, and strengthen community resilience.

Thesis Research Question: How can the architectural form be utilised in a holistic sense to create environmentally immersive architecture?

Supervisors: Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Sibyl Bloomfield

Positionality Bio: As a child, born in the fertile Taranaki region, some early memories are of lying in a daisy-scattered field,
looking up as clouds bypassed the iridescent sky, cicadas singing loudly, the sun fully immersing my skin.
In my final year of primary school, as part of local Rotary initiative, each student received seeds to plant
and grow their own vegetable garden. I will always remember how I felt, awarded certificate of my effort,
enjoying for the first time succulent radishes, grown by mother nature, harvested by my own hands. In later
years, whenever I would encounter feelings of ecstasy or despair, I would always seek out the most natureencompassed spot within viable reach.

Our environment, on both a conscious and subconscious level, hosts components critical to the way we
behave, act, and feel. As humans we rely on the built environment to provide shelter, landmark orientation,
and to navigate through different life stages. Surroundings speak loudly to us in so many ways – as an
emerging architect, I strive to encapsulate this dialogue into tangible language, translated through the built
form. I am passionate about environmental and social cohesion, alongside tackling the
underrepresentation of minority groups through architecture.

I believe that the consequence of environmentally immersive architecture is symbiotic beauty.

Research Description: This research through design aims to produce an architectural form that is the direct result of
environmental, spatial, and programmatic intention. Focusing on the implementation of architecture as a
tool of physical narration, the substantial building will be of subsidiary importance to its forefront purpose
and context. The aim is to bring into realisation architectural design which responsively varies depending
on programmatic intention, site locality, and the community in which it exists, creating a deeper and more
highly relevant connection between occupants and their associative environment.

An environment holds the ability to provide intimacy, comfort, and support; vital to providing a
contemporary and holistic setting, meeting the individual needs for those who depend upon it. I wish to
explore the relationship between therapy, structure, and one’s environment on a physiological level;
including how architectural functional priorities interact with psychological aspects relating to the
humanisation of space. I intend to use architecture as a tangible form to convey the intangible, by exploring
the architectural narrative of end-of-life care within Aotearoa New Zealand; a complex spiritual, emotional,
and physical journey that affects patients, whānau, and carers.

A palliative care facility conveys the opportunity to explore the need beyond basic programmatic
functionality within architecture; environmental orientation and unique community demands play a crucial
role. With a rapidly increasing aged population, and only eight of the thirty-two Aotearoa hospices existing
within the South Island, this establishes opportunity to align community alongside unique environment,
orientating architecture to remediate future environments. Experience of space within the Ōtepoti Dunedin
geographical context will hold variance compared to other parts of Aotearoa.

A main driver behind this research proposal is the need for contextually responsive architecture, to
implement mutually beneficial environments between the scenario and user.

Thesis Research Question: How can biophilic design, informed by Aotearoa’s natural environment and Māori perspectives, enhance community architecture?
Supervisors: Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Sibyl Bloomfield

Positionality Bio 

Ko Cilla Tomlinson tōku ingoa. I am a Master of Architecture (Professional) candidate based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. My design practice is grounded in a deep appreciation for the natural environment and a commitment to creating spaces that promote human well-being and ecological health. I approach this research as a Pākehā designer seeking to respectfully engage with Indigenous knowledge systems and ecological design frameworks. Growing up surrounded by Aotearoa’s diverse landscapes has shaped my belief in the power of nature to heal and restore. This thesis reflects my aspiration to contribute to a more responsive, regenerative architectural practice that aims to reconnect people with nature. 

Research Description 

This research explores how biophilic design, informed by Aotearoa’s unique ecological and cultural context, can be integrated into the design of a community centre in Takapuna to support well-being. It draws on Terrapin Bright Green’s 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, Te Aranga Māori Design Principles, and third place theory to investigate the intersections between architecture, nature, and mental health. Through design-led inquiry, this thesis develops a site-specific proposal that reconnects people with place and seeks to foster whanaungatanga (relationships), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and mauri ora (well-being) through spatial experience. 

Thesis Research Question: How can we create flood-resilient designs that adapt to changes in the built environment and how does this affect living organisms?
Supervisors: Sibyl Bloomfield, Maibritt Pedersen Zari.

This research analyses modern flood design practices for buildings amidst escalating climate-related risks, focusing on adapting to floods in coastal and inland areas. It examines current methodologies, regulatory standards, and technological advancements to enhance building resilience against floods. Additionally, it explores the feasibility of implementing these strategies in urban development, considering cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and community involvement. Ultimately, the goal is to advance flood risk management and inform decisions for creating resilient built environments in flood-prone regions. 

Thesis Working Title: Medium-density architecture for biodiversity
Supervisors: Maibritt Pedersen Zari and Sibyl Bloomfield.
Scholarship: From People, Cities, Nature Project

The aim of this project is to explore how medium-density architecture and associated ecological infrastructure can mitigate biodiversity loss and support its health in this fast-changing climate, while also enhancing the symbiotic relationship between human and non-human species. This ensures that we are bettering the ecological relationships that are needed for a biodiverse future and human survival, as part of ecosystem services theory, and draws upon biophilic design ideas to increase human wellbeing by working with human-nature relationships.

Thesis Research question: How can the implementation of regenerative strategies and systems benefit Kiribati in terms of health and well-being?
Supervisors: Sibyl Bloomfield and Maibritt Pedersen Zari

Kia Ora, my name is Danielle. I am currently studying towards my Master of Architecture (professional). I was born and raised in Auckland with my twin sister. Since I was in primary school I always wanted to be an architect as something about buildings and the design of buildings always fascinated me. I am personally interested in the idea of relationships in architecture, whether it is a relationship between the built environment and the natural environment or between humans and the built environment.

Thesis Research question: How can past vernacular Oceania and Asian Architecture in an Urban Environment Support Displaced Communities and Future Environments? 
Supervisors: Sibyl Bloomfield and Maibritt Pedersen Zari

This research applies a modern take of vernacular architecture to the Aotearoa Context through the Tamaki regeneration project for future generations of refugees who fled their homelands due to overpopulation and climate change. It explores past existing methods of Asian and Oceania vernacular design strategies in an urban environment development whilst enhancing the human experience and providing services to welcome people and further enhance the family experience.

Thesis research question: how can designing housing through a cultural lens improve the continuation of authentic cultural identity?
Supervisors: Sibyl Bloomfield and Maibritt Pedersen Zari

I am Alfa Lui, an Aotearoa-born Samoan 5^th Year Master of Architecture Student. I have always enjoyed drawing and designing inventions when I was younger, I used to play a lot in my backyard where I had a bunch of bamboo growing, so I was cutting and lashing pieces together with rope which helped strengthen my love for creating things and using my imagination. I feel like my environment moulded who I am today and now I plan to move forward with my Architectural Career using my own experiences to drive the need for contemporary indigenous residential architecture.

This year I am focusing on the impacts that westernised housing solutions have had on the cultural identity of Samoans, and how we can design moving forward taking on authentic Samoan Cultural design strategies and influences. The lifestyles and customs of Samoans are very unique and different compared to those supported by westernised housing solutions and that has led to loss of language and loss of identity. Being an Aotearoa-born Samoan, I want to help my people as much as I can, as I too am going through my own cultural identity journey.

Thesis Topic: Adapting South Tarawa to Climate Change: How can Nature-based Solutions and climate adaptation enhance the sovereignty and wellbeing of South Tarawa?
Supervisors: Maibritt Pedersen Zari and Sibyl Bloomfield

The low-lying Atoll of Tarawa, Kiribati is facing several wicked problems. Population density is at a peak which puts strain on food, water and housing alongside the climatic issue of the rising sea. The research and design work being carried out aims to pose a resolution to these issues by implementing Nature-based solutions with an understanding of the culture, environment and isolation of the Tarawa Atoll.

Willy Missack will be working towards his PhD at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. He was the Vanuatu Climate Action Network (VCAN) coordinator and Pacific Climate Change Collaboration Influence Learning (PACCCIL) Project Coordinator at Oxfam, Vanuatu and Vanuatu’s Negotiator on Adaptation and Loss and Damage since COP23. He is engaged in many climate change work in Vanuatu; and was first awarded youth of Vanuatu by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 with a Queen Young Leaders’ Award for its service to the Vanuatu community. At the regional level, he is serving as the Oceania Regional Coordinator for Conference Of Youth (COY16) and the One Young World (OYW) Coordinating Ambassador of the Pacific.

Thesis Working Title: Buildings as living (eco)systems – A three-fold approach for weaving ecosystem services into building development practice, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
Supervisors: Jaco, Han, Maibritt Pedersen Zari.

Katharina Hecht works on the integration of ecosystem services into buildings. With a Master’s degree in Bio-Inspired Innovation and a background in ecological impact assessment, she is interested in the benefits that regenerative building design can have by quantifying ecosystem services. Through workshops that seek to better link science and industrial practice, she supports building developers in sustainable decision-making towards ecological functionality.

Kia Ora, my name is Kahurangi. I’m a small-town boy from the far north. I grew up in Kaikohe and made the move to Wellington to pursue a career in Architecture. I love my culture, outdoors, whānau and my people.  I am currently in the final year of my masters in architecture. I plan to base my research around a self-sustaining papakāinga particularly in Ōmanaia where I am from. I am ambitious and keen to make a change to the world we live in through architecture.