The former Columba College pupil arrived back in Dunedin just before the massive earthquake in Christchurch last week, and has been following the media coverage of the devastation.
"With a third of building stock condemned, it's a tragedy for Christchurch.
The loss of heritage is very sad.
"But this is a rare opportunity to build a new CBD.
"It's an opportunity for New Zealand to discuss what Christchurch is going to be and what it could look like.
"I would imagine people will be against taller buildings, but that's where we need to go to be sustainable.
"We need more mixed land use - businesses and apartments in the inner city.
"It will help reduce vehicle traffic and increase pedestrians."
Miss Duncan (30) said the earthquake might have left many people fearful of the idea, but New Zealand's second-largest city would continue to grow despite the earthquake, and the idea of multistorey buildings was something communities would need to work through in a bid to become more sustainable.
She believed building standards would be reviewed as a result of the quake, and it was possible the Government would make the standards higher.
"We don't want people having to live in bunkers.
"It will be difficult to balance safety and aesthetic appeal.
"But we have some incredibly talented city designers in New Zealand."
Miss Duncan was a Fulbright Scholar and gained a master of science degree in architecture and urban design at Columbia University, in New York.
As well as being an associate urban designer with New York's planning department, she is an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University, where she teaches in the masters programme.
