Katherine Turk

About Katherine 

Hi, my name is Katherine Turk, I am a domestic student who has completed a Bachelor of Design in Architecture at UTS and am currently in the final year of the Master of Architecture at UTS. I expect to graduate with the Master of Architecture in 2025. 

Why Architecture?  

From an early age, I always knew I wanted to be an Architect, being interested in the fusion of the built environment and our natural ecosystem. I specifically chose Architecture over Landscape Architecture as I am more passionate about building design and spatial planning. 

My passion for designing functional, aesthetic, and sustainable architecture was further fuelled during my internships at TURNER and Stafford Architecture, for which I’ll always be grateful for the knowledge shared throughout these experiences. 

Studying with UTS

My experience at UTS is AMAZING! Being a student within the UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building has been transformative, with plenty of opportunities and highlights. 

One of the highlights for myself and my two other group members was receiving the Capstone Project Best Design Prize for demonstrating the most holistic architectural merit in Assessment 3 of 11278 Architectural Studio 6, 2022. 

Another recent highlight was The Cooks River Project Part II in Masters Architectural Design Studio 02 where conceptual thinking was applied to deliver a proposal which is underpinned by a rehabilitation framework centred around bringing the Cooks River back to its natural function of the ‘provider’, to adapt to the impacts of climate change and better support local community. The futuristic framework can be scaled up and down depending on future discourse, and across disciplines with the goal to generate long-term change. 

Global Study 

Another great opportunity to immerse myself personally and professionally was during the recent Barcelona and Girona, Spain Global Study Tour. Here I gained an understanding of urban space in the metropolitan region of Barcelona and learned about future tabled projects to connect the area on a local and regional level in terms of urbanising the green space to protect it, open it up, link it and make it agriculturally productive. These models, contexts and ideas will be tools that I can draw on for future local open space planning, which is one challenge of the architecture profession today. 

What’s Next 

Looking ahead, I am excited to continue to learn, grow, work in interdisciplinary teams, and be challenged to articulate, deeply understand and translate creatively spatial building design. And one day as a registered architect having the opportunity to improve public spaces by designing buildings of sustainable architectural futures, whilst balancing social, economic and environmental requirements. 

My advice to incoming UTS students would be to ask questions, persevere and enjoy your time at UTS!