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Final A1 Presentation // Week 14

Abstract:

The spiritual connection between people and the environment is often forgotten. With the increasing spread of Kauri dieback, emphasis on the well-being of the Waitakere Ranges is imperative. The aspiration of my intervention is to re-sensitize people to their environment through the experience of the outdoor deck at Arataki Visitors Centre. With the use of Te Aranga design principles Wairuatanga, Kaitiakitanga, and Mahi Toi, I hope to create a space that utilizes Maori culture and values to make a positive change for the Waitakere Ranges.

The design principles have acted as my design framework, informing my social, cultural, and historical context. In the production of this design project, the exploration of methods such as modelling, sketching, research and site scouting have unpacked the narrative I wished to delve into. The exploration of space programming, elements of the forest, and Maori narratives combine to create a spiritual experience for users. Immersion within all levels of forest life aims to manifest mythological aspects into physical projections.

The narrative of Rangi and Papa is inscribed into the movement of the deck, allowing guests to adventure through the Maori creation of the natural world. Moving from dark to light, dense to open, loud to silent, exposed to sheltered. These spaces showcase all elements of the forest, allowing the true beauty and origin to unveil itself.

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Design Development Booklet // Week 13

This handout booklet displayed the design process and thinking from our first Arataki visit, all the way to the final design intervention. I have included key design moments/thinking from my development into this booklet. I have tried to keep it short while outlining the most important aspects of my intervention as clearly as possible.

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Deck Elevations // Week 13

Using the existing Arataki rhino model and my 1:100 model, I was able to show the elevation change of the deck with relation to the forest. This gives another view that helps to explain and showcase the programming of the deck.

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1:10 Sectional Model Continued // Week 13

I measured the 2 decks together in order to create the supporting stands. I lightly cut and sanded the top to get the right curve placement for each deck, glueing them in place. For the supporting beam, I made a half lap joint connecting the beam and the stands. This joint is when parts of the 2 pieces are cut so that they can join together flush with each other. With this model I cut a 10mm chunk out of the beam and a 10mm chunk into the stand, resulting with the 2 parts concealed together.

I really enjoyed using the heart rimu timber as it produced a very organic model thanks to the rich streaky grain. The smell, feel, and look of this material is perfect for representing the connection between people, land, and culture. 

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1:10 Sectional Model Development // Week 13

This week I started my 1:10 model and was a very new and exciting experience being able to work in the wood workshop. I came into it as a novice but quickly got into a routine with the help of the technicians. I started by processing my sketches and measurements to get an idea of where to start. 

I started by measuring and cutting out the frames and rails. This helped create the shape and form I was looking for. The next was to apply the planks to the curved forms.

Once I had my initial deck piece, I started to cut and sand the railing poles. This task was very tedious and time-consuming as I had to slowly sand each pole to get similar shapes. I was pleased with the result as they are not perfectly rounded, giving them a rough and organic display. I drilled holes into the deck and railing to hold in the poles. All material used was heart rimu.

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Perspective Renders // Week 12

From the perspective shots captured from the 1:100 model, I have rendered and edited key sections of the deck. I selected 5 sections of the deck that showcase different elements such as dark, light, openness and density. This allows the full experience of the deck to be visualised.

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Deck Elevations // Week 11

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1:100 Model Making // Week 11

Using card that I had painted to represent the rimu material, I have created my 1:100 intervention model that I can apply to the contour model. This model is helpful to be able to work with the landscape in the contour model. Using the moss and sticks helps to create an atmosphere of a real forest within the space of the deck. 

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1:100 Plans // Week 11

Using illustrator and photoshop I have mapped out my plans, one showing the spacing layout and indicating the different elevated sections. I have added the elevation measurement of metres above sea level to give some information about which sections have been lifted or dropped. The sections will be able to make more sense of the elevation. The rendered plan shows the material and dark and light sections of the deck. 

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Material // Week 11

Heart Rimu

- One of New Zealand’s best-known native species

-  Dominant/Co-dominant species in nearly every major indigenous forested area

-  Sustainably sourced from managed forests

- Rimu is a slow-growing tree and has an estimated life cycle of around 250 years. It can potentially live for more than 1,000 years.

I am using heart rimu in my design as its characteristics such as life cycle, native species, and sustainability reflect the concept of my project. Heart rimu is also the wood that comes from the middle of the tree, which can be seen as extracting from the ‘heart’ of the tree. This is a great material choice to reinforce my concept of displaying the ‘heart’ of the forest and its origin. Its native position in NZ and long life cycle defines this tree as one that has been part of history dating back 70 million years. In my interpretation, heart rimu is like the wise old man that has seen it all, and able to tell old tales and myths to visitors. For me, this material embodies that persona and helps to communicate Maori narrative and culture. 

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Deck Programming // Week 10

I used a sheet of butter paper to map out the sections of the deck that experience darkness, light, openness and closure. The dark highlights indicate areas that can be exaggerated to showcase deeper canopy levels of the forest. The light highlights are areas that offer views over the Ranges and feeling of standing on top of the trees. These different zones allow different elements of the forest to be experienced, further emphasising the origin narrative of Rangi and Papa, as well as Te Kore (the void), Te Po (darkness), Te Ao (light) through the experience of the deck.

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Project Title  ‘Ki uta ki tai’ // Week 10

Ki uta ki tai “From the mountains to the sea”

‘Recognising the connections across the landscape, people and ecosystems’

This Maori concept really expresses the theme I am exploring with my intervention project. The emphasis on the connection between guests, ecosystems, and landscape (Waitakere Ranges). Maori people use this concept to describe how their own health and well-being is heavily linked to the health and well-being of the natural environment. With the threat of Kauri dieback negatively affecting the forest health and well-being, people are encouraged to engage with and understand the forest on a new level. Hopefully resulting in a greater appreciation for the ecosystem and new steps to combat Kauri dieback.

Through the use of Wairuatanga, Kaitiakitanga, and Mahi Toi, I hope to embody Ki uta ki tai in my design intervention.

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Concept Development // Week 10

The main focus of my project, carrying on from our group idea, is to enhance the connection between people and the surrounding forest. With the Te Aranga design principles Mahi Toi and Wairuatanga, I explored into Maori narratives and culture to discover methods of embracing the natural environment further.

I initially discovered a Maori well-being model called Nga Pou Mana. This model is a set of values and beliefs that determine the well-being of Maori people. According to Nga Pou Mana, the key features of well-being are family, cultural heritage, land base, and environment. It also emphasises the condition of the natural environment affects well-being.

As this idea is quite complex to manifest, I tried to simplify down into one simple narrative. I decided to explore the narrative of Rangi and Papa and the origin of the natural world, in order to embrace and acknowledge Nga Pou Mana. Most importantly emphasising how the condition of the environment affects Maori well-being.

INDIGENOUS MĀORI KNOWLEDGE AND PERSPECTIVES OF ECOSYSTEMS

https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/77047/2_1_Harmsworth.pdf

I found this report on Maori perspective of ecosystems very helpful to inform my design practice.

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Sketchbook Concepts // Week 9

I have been using my sketchbook to generate some understanding of how I experience the deck and how I want it to work with the environment. Some of these sketches were done before revisiting the site so it made it easier to walk along the deck imagining it with my design.

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Arataki Site Visit #2 // Week 9

On Tuesday during week 9, I visited the Arataki Visitor Centre again as I felt I needed to walk through once more to get some further understanding of the site. I had my concept vision in my head but I needed to be able to imagine it while walking through the outdoor deck. I was able to identify important sections of the deck and to form an understanding of the layout I wanted to achieve.

Some photos from the visit (focusing on experience and form of the deck and surrounding forest canopy level):

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Movement and Environmental connection // Week 8

“Our body is an incredibly well-designed machine and an amazingly complex piece of engineering. It has been refined and optimized through millions of years of evolution - and it was designed to move. The setting we choose to create around this masterpiece deserves the highest possible level of attention - physically as well as emotionally”.

- Mikkel Rugaard, Architect & Designer

https://www.streetmovement.dk/shaping-spaces

This quote by Rugaard who specialises in parkour themed architecture is a great thought to store in the development of my project as it relates greatly to my concept.

A thesis called Movement in Architecture Design, written by Valerie O’Leary explores the ways designers can enhance peoples experience in a built environment through movement. Architect Le Corbusier approached his designs with the goal of resensitise people to their surroundings with architecture. 

https://issuu.com/valerieolearyarchitect/docs/valerie_o_leary_final_thesis

I want to try to take this idea into my design by creating a space of freedom that connects people to their surroundings and invites movement and exploration.

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Outdoor Deck Inspiration // Week 8

Bjarke Ingel’s Maritime Youth House is a great example of what I want to transform the outdoor deck into. Creating rolling hills and curves promotes movement and playfulness into the experience.