BRIEF:
The site for this project is Morrisons' Building, a modernist heritage building from 1930 and former printers offices, at 15 Garrett Street, opposite Glover Park. It is ideally located near Cuba Street and many shops, and bars but also creative practices. It is in the midst of Wellington's cultural hub. This project considers how this site and context can be transformed into a satellite campus and utilised to provide design students with a facility to study and interact with Te Aro's communities and city life.
OUTCOME:
For this project, I have designed a creative arts satellite campus for Massey students in the heart of Wellington. I focused on the arts community of Te Aro I researched some key wants and needs from the arts community, these being exhibit space, workspace, and collaborative space. My design incorporates these three spaces within this satellite campus. The spatial program of the space includes community art gallery space (artwork & display tables), lounge seating, and a bathroom on the ground floor (public access), collaborative studio rooms, study workspaces, computer workspaces, a kitchenette, and seating on the first and second floor (Massey students only). There is access to an elevator and stairs on all levels. My design aims to reintroduce and remember some of the naturalistic elements that once belonged in Te Aro when it once was a thriving wetland. I created three unique organically shaped sculpture pieces that vary throughout the floors. The pieces are inspired by the native flora of the wetland, such as the gnarled and twisting cabbage trees and towering kahikatea trees. Since majorly inspired by the past environment, I wanted to make my design sustainable by using renewable and natural materials such as copper and wool within my pieces. Lastly, my design examines the themes of ihi and wehi through my design process to the final output that aims to produce a soft, serene atmosphere that promotes a diverse, healthy, and sustainable environment.
RESEARCH & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT:
