Erin Gilbertson

Book Worm.

So lately I’ve gone on a bit of a book binge. I’m not usually one for buying books as all the sharing and caring (and free-ness) of libraries makes a lot of sense to me, but sadly the one thing about Tekapo is there is no library (unless you count the research library at the observatory, but I’m not sure how long PHDs on astrophysics would hold my attention for!). So I’ve splashed out and bought I few books which I thought I might share.

1. New Zealand by Design Michael Smythe

This is a new book, only just published this year, on New Zealand product design. I was initially drawn in by the Trubridge light on the cover (memories of my internship), but after reading just the first chapter (on Maori design), I already feel a lot more knowledgeable about not only product design but the history of our country as well. My boyfriend must be getting sick of my constant “wo, did you know that kumara were originally imported from central america” etc. etc. This is definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone who wanted to learn more about design or just about New Zealand history in general (two things which are of course at the top of my interest list!)

2. Living Green Annmaree Kane and Christina Neubert

This book is a guide for New Zealanders in living a “eco-friendly, toxin-free, sustainable life”. This kind of thing has become a big priority in my life lately, so this guide specifically for New Zealand living is great. So far I’m finding it a bit more about having a healthy lifestyle (i.e. eating healthy, drinking lots) than living sustainably, but I have a few more chapters to go through yet. I also thought it was pretty neat that Annmaree Kane is an interior designer based in Auckland, so I hope I can get in contact with her some day, as it seems we have a lot in common!

3. New Zealand Hall of Fame Maria Gill and Bruce Potter

This one my boyfriend got me on a trip to Wellington. As he said “we always hear the names of these people, and never really know who they are”. This book is a simple overview on 50 famous and inspirational New Zealanders. So far I’m learning a lot, like who knew that Edmund Hilary once went on a trip to the North Pole with Neil Armstrong. Turns out they were mates!

Summer. Stars.

So now that I’ve finished my Diploma, I felt I deserved a little break before launching into full time work in the shakey city. And so I find myself now living in the little township of Tekapo, around the centre of the South Island.

There’s a huge tourism industry here (apparently we get 1.4million tourists through every year!), so I am working at Earth and Sky, where we offer stargazing tours at our observatory. Check it out at http://www.newzealandsky.com/earthandsky/   Definitely a once in a lifetime experience for those who can get here!

Tekapo is such a beautiful place - the air is so fresh, the water so blue, and the mountains so stunning! I am gathering much inspiration for future design projects.

We’ve got a bit of excitement going on here at the moment with a little movie being filmed just down the road called The Hobbit. Heard of it? It’s only the biggest film NZ will see since LOTR!! I’ve heard that Orlando Bloom is filming this afternoon, so I’m off to do a little stalking! xx

Graduate Exhibition.

On Monday night, our interior design class was finally able to hold our graduate exhibition, after it was postponed from 2 months ago. The night went really well, and I felt proud to have something to show for all my hard work over the last two years. 

The main focus of the exhibit was four A2 boards that I had printed and then stuck on to some nice plywood that I oiled up a few days ago - these showed my main projects (see earlier posts), such as Habitots, Chalky Digits pop up store and Ellerslie Flower Show. To accompany the Chalky Digits board, I included my scale 1:20 model (complete with tiny wooden clothes hangers!), and to go with my Ellerslie board I displayed one of the koru planter boxes I had created for my Ellerslie exhibit. It was great to finally be able to display this, as I put so much work into it - I even managed to get the internal LED lights going! The light that I received from my internship at David Trubridge was a real feature, and drew people in to my corner.

On the main plinth, I had my portfolio, business cards, and some natural objects such as shells and rocks that I have accumulated from beautiful spots around the country. I stuck on a canvas of my 60s fabric print, and propped up my Nikau palm picture from home (see previous post on how this was made).

The boards and model will stay on display in the Home Ideas Centre at 37 Mandeville Street in Christchurch until 10th November, so if you around, feel free to come and have a look at my work :)

Internship Done. Party Time.

Well, yesterday was the last day of my internship with David Trubridge Ltd.

And also, the day of their big “House Warming” party for their new premises. It was good timing that I was there for the party, as I met a lot of interesting people last night and a really good time. 

Speaking of a good time…. the last two weeks have been a blast! Pretty hectic, as I was there for the big move, so a lot of packing boxes and heavy lifting. But I got to do a whole lot of other stuff as well, like sanding and assembling lights, making some shelves and tables for the new premises (i am now a master with the cordless drill), packaging lights for the kitsets etc etc. I even got upstairs to the design office to work with the designers for a while, and learnt how to use the design program Rhino.

One of the main reasons I had such a great time was the fantastic staff at David Trubridge. They all made me feel very welcome, and couldn’t have been friendlier. I feel privileged to have worked with such a creative, enthusiastic bunch of people.

Party at the new premises. Check out the lights above the band - I assembled those!

South Library Redesign.

Another of my student design projects. This was our first new project after the Christchurch earthquake, when we were working out of a library (due to our building being right in the CBD, which is still closed 7 months later). Our drawing teacher, with none of her resources etc. at hand, gave us a improvised assignment to redesign and draw the library.

This is the new design I came up with for the cafe, using a lot more organic materials, and enhancing the natural light. I designed the layout in a way that would create seperated “spaces” where people could sit and read quietly, without being disturbed as much by other customers (i.e. screaming babies). 

Floorplan plus perspective sketch of the new design of the cafe part of the library.

We also had to design a mural for one of the walls of the library. My mural is based on the Mt Cook lilies I saw when I spent a lot of time in Tekapo over summer.

Ellerslie Flower Show.

Entering the 2011 Ellerslie Flower Show in Christchurch was one of our main projects while I was studying. We spent months building up to it finding sponsors, creating designs, organizing tradespeople, sourcing materials etc. etc.

The brief was to create a 5m x 5m courtyard for a young working couple. My entry “A Drop of Tranquility” centered around the idea of bringing the peace and tranquility of the New Zealand bush into a suburban environment. I did this by using native plants, as well as Maori iconography (in the Koru shape).

Unfortunately the Christchurch earthquake hit when I was in the final stages of constructing my courtyard, so I never got to see it completed. The show was cancelled, but the one good thing to come out of it was they were able to use our materials and the show marques to assist those who sought refuge after loosing their homes to the earthquake.

This is a Photoshopped representation of what my design would have looked like when finished. The colour seems to have come up a bit wrong on this picture, but you get the idea.

Elevations

Construction Stages.

David Trubridge Internship. Day One.

Today was my first day working at the David Trubridge workshop. I had lots of fun! Even though my hands are blistered, and I came home sweaty and covered in sawdust, it was great! 

First I had to screw shelves on to a wall as earthquake proofing (something I would know a lot about, coming from Christchurch hehe), and then pack up a million screws in a whole lot of boxes, and then I assembled a ‘Swish Light’ (see below). They are made from bamboo plywood and polycarbonate, and they create a lovely warm ambient light. I sanded, scrapped, drilled and riveted one and a half of these today. Only seven and half more to go!

I really love doing this kind of hands-on construction work (probably a gene I got from my dad, who is a builder), and it was neat seeing the finished product.

I also got to meet David Trubridge himself, which was a privilege.

Bring on day two :)

Vino Veneto Restaurant Design.

This is another one of my student design projects. The brief was to create a small restaurant in central Christchurch. We were to pick the theme, name and intended atmosphere for the restaurant.

Along with two other class mates, we created ‘Vino Veneto’ - a high class Venetian style restaurant. With timber floors, Italian inspired design, and a sensible layout, Vino Veneto is a space where customers can expect top quality food and a top quality experience. The space is extended below ground with a luxury wine cellar that can be booked out for private functions.

In my team I was in charge of the design of the bathrooms. I wanted to create a real luxury atmosphere in the bathrooms. You know those times when you get all dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant, and then go to the bathrooms… and feel like you’ve entered a day spa? And then you come out and tell your friends how awesome the toilets are, and then everyone wants to go and have a look?… or is that just me?

Anyway, I wanted the bathrooms of Veno Veneto to make the customers feel like a million dollars.

Haumoana is where the heart is.

Welcome to Haumoana! This is my home for the next few weeks while I am in Hawke’s Bay for my internship. Jealous much?

Maybe not so jealous of my 5am (!!) start this morning, with an early flight from Christchurch to Napier. But by 9am, I was eating breakfast at a cafe on the Napier waterfront. (While checking out all the amazing architecture of course, as it is the Art Deco capital of the world).

I’m staying with my boyfriend’s family in the small town of Haumoana, a few km away from Hastings. It’s glorious and sunny and I spent the afternoon on the beach - lapping up the sunshine, breathing the fresh sea air, and playing with charcoal and rocks. Check out my photos…

I’m so lucky to live in such a beautiful country :)