SESSION Abstract: Buildings Carry Meanings
This course explores the enduring legacy of ancient architectural traditions and their profound influence on the modern built environment. By tracing the evolution of structural logic from Egyptian post-and-beam construction to the symbolic verticality of Gothic cathedrals, students will analyze how form communicates institutional values. Through a comparative study of iconic structures like the Parthenon and the Roman Pantheon, the curriculum decodes the shift from external sculptural aesthetics to internal cosmic symbolism. Finally, by examining New Zealand landmarks in Napier and Auckland, the session demonstrates how contemporary civic and corporate designs replicate classical motifs to project authority, permanence, and security.
Date: Thursday 21st January, 2027
Location: We are delighted to be hosting at the Hygge at Clifton Bay Clifton Road, Te Awanga, New Zealand
Time & format: The course will start at 10am, with a coffee and tea break followed by a lively facilitated discussion to answer all your curious questions. The course will finish at 12pm each week.
About the expert
Jonathan Pickup
Jonathan Pickup is the founder and director of Archoncad, a leading global destination for Vectorworks training, resources, and community education. Trained as an architect in New Zealand and the UK, Jonathan brings decades of hands-on design industry experience to his educational platform.
As a premier authority on CAD and BIM solutions, he specializes in Vectorworks Architect, 3D Modeling, and Landmark software workflows. Through Archoncad, Jonathan empowers design professionals, architects, and landscapers worldwide to maximize their software potential, streamline their drafting processes, and elevate their creative projects through comprehensive online courses, manuals, and continuous professional development
Other learning activities you may be interested in
What Can We Learn From Rugby? Workshop
POPULARStop Drawing, Start Seeing: Urban Sketching Demystified Workshop
Kōura, Eels, and Boots: Discovering Hawke's Bay's Hidden Wild
Elite Aviators: The Meticulous World of Flight Training
Introductory Ballroom Dancing Workshop
What does it actually take to build an Olympic medalist?
POPULARAI 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence (Online Workshop)
Demystifying AI and Giving People Control
Technological Impact Workshop (The Greatest Innovations Were Social, Not Technical)
POPULARRe-imagining your career after 50 (Online Workshop)
Technological Impact Workshop (Physical AI and the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT))
