Ikko Siasoco

3rd-year student, Bachelor of Architecture and Future Environments

He discovered his love for architecture on a visit to Japan, says Ikko Siasoco who is currently completing his Bachelor of Architecture and Future Environments.

“I’ve always had a set of skills that leaned towards the arts and creativity. Growing up in a large immigrant family, when we first arrived in New Zealand we were unable to afford the fancy gadgets my friends had at the time. Instead, my siblings and I used our imagination as a source of entertainment. From creating our own board games, comics and playing with Lego, I instantly fell in love with the endless possibilities of artistic and creative thinking. Due to this I wanted to pursue a course that revolved around design.

“It was during a trip to Japan in 2018 that I fell in love with architecture. Through my admiration for their large skyscrapers, systems and other structures, I knew that one day I wanted to become an architect and stretch the boundaries to discover different possibilities for designs. I want to be able to leave a physical mark by sharing my work for all people to experience, just as my younger self did in Japan.”

Once he knew that architecture was what he wanted to study at university, Ikko then started to look at where to study.

“AUT’s architecture degree offers a different approach and highlights the importance of designing sustainably over designing aesthetically to benefit future generations. This core idea drew me to AUT as it’s engaging with architecture in a different way to other architecture schools, and really offers something special to its students.”

The right choice
He wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AUT’s architecture programme, says Ikko who is proud of being recognised as a high-achieving student for the past few semesters.

“Being able to study something I’m passionate about enabled me to fully discover what I’m capable of and has helped me grow. If you’re anything like me, and enjoy drawing and designing, architecture offers a unique experience where creativity flourishes. Architecture is both fun and engaging, and too often I get caught up with the drawings and lose all awareness of time. I’ve found that my engagement for the work we do is a passion and, although working long hours, I’m engaging with my work the whole time without losing interest.”

He has been impressed by the academic staff he has met throughout his studies.

“The tutors are there whenever you’re stuck or in need of assistance. They act as mentor figures, like Obi Wan Kenobi to Luke Skywalker, and have helped me realise my potential for growth. Reviews and discussions with tutors and peers can be a big challenge as it could mean redrawing and developing your work several times over. This can get disheartening sometimes but the feedback we receive from the tutors encourages us to produce the best work we possibly can.

“A key moment for me was when I was finalising a project ready for submission the following day and I found that I was missing a crucial part. It was around 1am and, although I didn’t expect any reply, I emailed my tutor as a final cry for help. To my surprise, she replied less than 20 minutes later with a detailed explanation of what I needed to do. Without hesitation, she made the time to help me complete my project even that early in the morning. This made me realise how much the tutors care about their students here at AUT.”

Advice for other students
Now in the third year of his studies, Ikko has some great advice for other students who are interested in architecture.

“When studying architecture, you become your own worst critic. Expect to stay up long hours, independently working, developing and finalising work. Coffee, energy drinks, a strong playlist of your favourite songs, and your peers and tutors will be your best friends. Architecture is never complete; there’s only the deadline and the final product you produce in the timeframe you have.”

It's important to stay on top of your work, he adds.

“Because an important part of architecture is communicating with your tutors, attending classes is important as through reviews you’ll receive different angles to explore within your designs. Due to this, writing a list of weekly tasks is a good idea so that when you have reviews, you always have work to present and develop. Effective time management goes a long way.

“It’s also important to note that not knowing how to do everything is normal; not a disadvantage. Instead, this should be seen as an opportunity for learning and development, which essentially is the reason you study. Thankfully, all the tutors at AUT are always available, approachable and passionate about helping students. Talking to tutors is a must in architecture and getting to know them makes it easier to approach them if you have questions or worries about your work.”