Applications are open for Australian tertiary students of Architecture, Engineering and Design to participate in the third year of MADE by the Opera House student exchange program.
The Multidisciplinary Australian Danish Exchange, also known as MADE by the Opera House is a visionary exchange program between Australia and Denmark for students of Architecture, Engineering and Design (in the Built Environment) in 2nd year or above. Students selected for the program will get the opportunity to work on a multidisciplinary project and undertake a study tour in the other country. The MADE by the Opera House program was established in honour of the Sydney Opera House’s 40th anniversary celebrations in October 2013.
Danish MADE participants arriving in Sydney next month for the 2015 MADE program will be given a student project brief to re-imagine the area under the Opera House’s Monumental Steps, which is currently used for car parking, as a vibrant visitor destination.
Correspondingly, five Australians will travel to Denmark in January 2016 to take part in a six-week multidisciplinary project, where they will also receive professional mentoring and coaching as well as exposure to various Danish organisations, architects, engineers and designers.
Australian applicants must have completed at least their second year of an engineering, architecture or design (in the built environment) degree by 31 December 2015. The successful students will receive a $6,000 scholarship to cover international airfares, accommodation and living expenses during their exchange.
Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM observes that students have a valuable opportunity to gain real-world experience and work in the same cross-disciplinary way that gave birth to the Opera House, one of the world’s most iconic buildings. She added that such collaborative initiatives should be encouraged in future generations of design thinkers and leaders.
Commenting on the design brief for the Danish students, Ms Herron said the completion of a new underground loading dock later this year would provide an opportunity to clear the area under the Monumental Steps and open it up for public use. Known as Under the Stairs, the proposal is part of a suite of Opera House Renewal projects currently being planned.
According to Ms Herron, the brief challenges the Danish students to put forward meaningful design ideas for this important space, and is a perfect mock project for the MADE students.
The Danish MADE students will present their final project proposals at a farewell event on 21 August.
Applications for Australian MADE students can be submitted online. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 9 July 2015, and successful students will be notified by 20 August 2015.
The MADE by the Opera House exchange program is supported by Sydney Opera House, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Schools of Architecture, Design & Conservation), Arup, Steensen Varming and The NSW Architects Registration Board as well as three Danish foundations including The Bikuben Foundation, The Dreyer Foundation and The Obel Family Foundation.
