Alexandra (Zana) Wright studied architecture between Sydney, Berlin, and Denmark. She now uses her education as a framework through which to interrogate the workings of the world, seeking through her creative investigations to redesign the narrative by which humans exist.
Her practice is inspired by a reverence for the intelligent complexity and balance inherent within nature. Her process is deeply reflective and driven by research, empirical observations, and intuition. Her objective is to lead society towards greater resilience through projects which foster positive relationships between humans themselves, and between humans and the earth which supports them.
EDUCATION
2013 – present / Centre for Sustainability Leadership Fellowship Program, Sydney
2011 – 2012 / Masters of Architecture / Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark
2009 – 2011 / Masters of Architecture / University of Technology Sydney, NSW
2007 – 2008 / Bachelor of Architecture / Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
2006 – 2009 / Bachelor of Design in Architecture / University of Technology Sydney, NSW
2004 – 2006 / Bachelor of Design / College of Fine Arts, UNSW, Sydney, NSW
2003 / NSW Higher School Certificate / SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW
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2012 / Youth Leading the World Congress, Byron Bay
2012 / Audio Architecture conference & design workshop, Melbourne
2010 / Extra/Ordinary National Architecture Conference, Sydney
2009 / Transnational Tides and the Future of the Arab City Yale Arab Alumni Conference on Urban Sustainability, Beirut
2009 / Parallax National Architecture Conference, Melbourne
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2013 – present / POROSITY STUDIO, Sydney / Architectural Designer
Collaborative conceptual design within a team established by Richard Goodwin for local and international urbanism, art and architecture ideas competitions.
2013 – present / BABY BABY (film), Sydney / Set Designer and Art Department Assistant
Design and art department work on a short film by award-winning young writer/director, Billie Pleffer. One of three films selected for Screen NSW’s highly competitive Emerging Filmmakers Fund.
2008 – present / PRIVATE PRACTICE, Byron Bay & Sydney / Architectural Designer
Solo and collaborative design and construction documentation of various prospective and completed residential buildings and additions, restaurant developments and public art installations, with a focus on ecologically sustainable design and material tectonics.
2010 – 2011 / DE MANINCOR RUSSELL ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP (DRAW), Sydney / Architectural Assistant
Sketch design, DA, concept design and construction detailing phases of large public university building. Responsible for managing overall drawing set, and undertook work in design, 3D modeling, graphics, visualisations, liaising with consultants, fixtures and finishes schedules. Also worked on residential projects in DA, concept design and construction detailing phases.
2010 / INTERNATIONAL DESIGN GROUP, Sydney & Tianjin (China) / Graphic Designer & Architectual Assistant
Worked between Sydney and China (Beijing and Ordos City, Inner Mongolia) with team lead by former NSW government architect, Chris Johnson, on design of large urban planning project and public buildings.
2006 – 2010 / GRICE LYNCH ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS, Sydney / Architectural Assistant
Assisted architects and interior designers on residential and hospitality projects. Responsible for fixtures and finishes schedules, management of material library and office administration. Also undertook AutoCAD drafting, Development Applications, site visits.
ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 / Winner – Australian Institute of Architects Annual Graduate Prize for Construction and Practice
2012 / Commendation – Australian Institute of Architects Structural Innovation in Architecture Graduate Prize for PreVault Pavilion
2012 / Commendation – Australian Institute of Architects Digital Innovation Graduate Prize commendation for PreVault Pavilion
2012 / Nominated – Australian Institute of Architects Structural Innovation in Architecture Graduate Prize for Concrete Plasticity
2011 / Invited – UTS Golden Key International Honour Society
2010 / Winner – Hoarding Design Competition for Future UTS Construction for The Periscope (design scheduled to be built 2013)
2009 / National finalist – SONA Superstudio Student Architecture Competition
EXHIBITIONS
2012 / PreVault Pavilion exhibited at Australian Institute of Architects Annual Student Awards Exhibition
2011 / PreVault Pavilion exhibited at Aarhus Festival, Denmark
2011 / Exhibited as part of a larger work How to be a Good Witness, at Prague Quadrennial, Czech Republic
2011 / Exhibited as part of a larger work Networks of Surrender, at Gwangju Design Biennale, South Korea
2011 / Pop-up Kasbah exhibited at Mils Gallery, Sydney
2009 / The Diversity Machine Meets the Resilient Network presented at Pecha Kucha, Sydney
2009 / The Diversity Machine Meets the Resilient Network selected for UTS Annual DAB Faculty Exhibition
2009 / UTS 2020 Library selected for UTS City Campus Masterplan Exhibition
2008 / UTS 2020 Library selected for UTS Annual Design, Architecture & Building Faculty Exhibition
2006 / Eco-trekking Centre selected for UTS Annual Design, Architecture & Building Faculty Exhibition
PUBLICATIONS
2012 / Freerange Vol. 5 featured Leaders of the Blind photo essay
2011 / Architecture Australia featured The Periscope
2010 / Architectural Design featured project The Diversity Machine Meets the Resilient Network
2010 / Architectural Design featured photography taken in Ordos, China
2010 / Architectural Review featured project The Diversity Machine Meets the Resilient Network
VOLUNTEER WORK
2012 – present / POSITIVE CHANGE FOR MARINE LIFE, Byron Bay, NSW / Creative Director
Coordinating collaboration of artists, musicians and film makers with ocean conservation NGO to creatively convey marine debris campaign messages and inspire change.
2012 – 2013 / BYRON BAY HERB NURSERY, Byron Bay, NSW / Volunteer
Working within environmental best-practice horticultural social enterprise providing employment and training opportunities for people with an intellectual disability.
2012 / BEIRUT WONDER FOREST, Beirut, Lebanon / Volunteer
Assisted planting on residential rooftops for NGO aiming to ‘green’ Beirut, reduce pollution levels and improve the city’s food security.
2011 – present / ST VINCENT’S NIGHT PATROL , Sydney / Volunteer
Working with mobile outreach service for Sydney’s homeless.
2010 / YOUTH OFF THE STREETS FOOD VAN, Sydney / Volunteer
Volunteered preparing food and driving van to site in central Sydney to distribute meals to the homeless.
2009 / CARROTMOB SYDNEY, Sydney / Founder + Director
Founded group which executed a campaign persuading a business to become greener by promising them a ‘mob’ of new customers.
2008 / SMART LIGHT SYDNEY FESTIVAL, Sydney / Artist
Collaborated on sustainable lighting art installations through guerilla lighting programs.
SPECIAL SKILLS
German language (medium)
Arabic language (beginner)
