Open Polytechnic ākonga (learner) Hannah Hall has always enjoyed the design aspect of architecture, but it wasn’t until January 2024 that she decided to turn it into a career.

From café worker to architectural technology

Hannah, 21, had been working at her family’s coffee shop in Auckland before enrolling in the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6) with Open Polytechnic.

“I have always loved houses whether it be designing layouts or wandering through half-completed job sites with my tradesman dad,” Hannah says.

“I never thought I’d necessarily attend university, but I wanted to find a career more enjoyable and meaningful to me than one in hospitality or retail.” 

Studying with Open Polytechnic   

Flexible online learning with Open Polytechnic, New Zealand’s leading distance and online learning provider, seemed like the perfect fit for Hannah.

Being homeschooled throughout her education to date, she was familiar with organising and completing her studies at home, while she lives in northern Auckland, quite a distance from the nearest university.

“Distance learning suits me, and the diploma provided by Open Polytechnic looked exciting,” she says.

Hannah appreciates how flexible the programme is and that she can establish her own timetable.

“This has benefited me greatly as I can work around special days or set studies aside to be with family and friends,” Hannah says.

While Hannah loves the arts, it was Open Polytechnic’s NZ Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6) that piqued her interest.

“The course description outlined the traits of a person suitable for this career, and I aligned with most of them,” Hannah says.

“This excited and encouraged me that I could achieve it.”  

Hannah’s architectural technology career ambitions 

While Hannah is still studying full-time with Open Polytechnic, she has organised some work experience in a local firm.

Once she graduates, Hannah would like to be an architectural technician specialising in residential housing.

“After gaining experience, I hope to become a licensed building practitioner and thus an architectural designer so I can create simple, practical, and elegant houses, especially for first home buyers / builders,” Hannah says.

Hannah is inspired by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who said, “Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union”. 

This looks at the interconnection between form and function in design. 

The practical nature of Open Polytechnic study 

Hannah has greatly appreciated that most of her assessments involved activities that she will be carrying out in her career, including creating architectural drawings, designing layouts and researching materials.

“I am not a lover of learning for knowledge’s sake, but relish that what I have learnt can be put to good use,” Hannah says.

Her favourite course was CONS6703 Design in the Built Environment because it discussed design eras over the centuries.

“I have also appreciated practical courses covering construction systems, and those that involve architectural drawing because these give me knowledge and skills for the industry,” Hannah says. 

Open Polytechnic’s resources 

Hannah enjoyed the content of her diploma.

“I’m a visual and practical learner, so I am very thankful my courses have involved assessments rather than exams,” Hannah says.

Hannah was in regular communication with her tutors to clarify information for her assessments. 

She found her tutors to be helpful on the phone or in a video chat, while Sean Irion was particularly helpful via email and in the iQualify learning platform’s talk channel. 

“He was an excellent tutor who ensured he understood my questions, responded swiftly, and provided me with extra information so that I was set up to win in my studies,” Hannah says.