#waitakere

The Omanawanui Loop track has re opened at the Waitakere Ranges. Just in time to stay home again. 

Auckland, New Zealand

final draft plan, sections and elevation drawings.

I attempted to draw the output first and found it to be messy. Instead I made a digital model to show. 

design output side 1.

I created a digital model on sketch-up, added cladding and exported sections and elevations.

design output side 2.

I tried creating a digital collage using images of the site and watercolour. The additional figures are silhouettes and aren’t very clear, I put two children and a dog to demonstrate who will occupy the space. However, it doe not portray where it’s situated very well.

Our final design output required six images including a roof plan, floor plan, long section, short section, elevation and final summative overlay drawing/collage. I created these images from many initial sketches and photographs of the site we were provided with. I made some final decisions including materiality which was glulam timber that was able to be bent and manipulated into the curved forms my structure required. I also looked at different tower precedents and was particularly inspired by a seaside tower built on the Whangapoua beach by the Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects. This tower could also move - the entire structure was able to be relocated when necessary. The use of timber also helped me confirm my decisions on what material to use. 

“On an idyllic beach located in the Coromandel peninsula, north of New Zealand, a very unique building can be found—created by the Crosson Clarke Carnachan Architects architecture studio.Built by the shore of a white-sanded beach—among the dunes—this particular shelter needed to be removable to adapt to the coastal erosion the region is constantly subjected to. For this very reason, the cabin stands on two, solid-wood sleighs so that it can be moved around more easily.”  -  Eric Vökel, Danish Architect

My ‘tower’ has a cosy, exciting atmosphere. The first floor, box space is a small cosy room which you are able to enter via stairs and a door. This little room is fitted with a bench and sink, small table, chairs and a space for bean bags and blankets. You can go inside, put the kettle on, make a cup of hot cocoa and then head up to the roof by climbing the ladder to the magical viewing cubby. This is a little get-away for a couple of friends to sit and relax and either watch the waves out to sea or the stars at night. The most exciting part about the cubby is that the whole structure is able to rotate. It rotates according to which ever way the wind pushes it so the wind never blows into it. The rotational mechanism is gradual for safety reasons. In my ‘long section’ I have detailed the rotating system design. 

FINAL DESIGN OUTPUT IMAGES

Roof Plan, Floor Plan, Long Section, Short Section and Elevation

Summative Overlay Drawing/Collage

under exercise. cross-section: HENDERSON              

scale 1:200

History: Henderson is named after an early colonial settler, Thomas Henderson, who owned the land in 1844. He started a timber mill in the area to process kauri trees which were cut

from the Waitakere foothills.

For the "over" section I've included my house and neighbouring houses. I interpreted the "under" section as the history of Henderson and what it meant to myself. I included the

Waitakere ranges, kauri trees and timber mill to explain the history. Below the timber mill is the Oratia stream that runs along Henderson. I added a cross to represent red cross as my

parents and family were sponsored here and lived here along this road as refugees. The kowhaiwhai pattern within the cross symbolizes the country my family turned into a new home.

I also added kowhai as the Henderson sign incorporates these flowers.

over exercise. storyboard

@9am: A small family walk alongside the pathway right next to my house. The house is south facing so from my bedroom there's not as much light. From this side of the house, during this time, I could hear many sparrows. 

@12pm: From the living room there's typically a lot of noise from many cars passing by. Fewer cars and buses drive by this road. There was a subtle wind as the trees were swaying gently.

@3pm: Pretty silent on this side of the house, facing north. A lot of sunlight enters on this side of the room and as there's no busy road it’s quite peaceful.

@6pm: Facing west. It was quiet and getting chilly. Usually, the sunsets have a beautiful colourful gradient. 

Wainamu Falls, Waitakere, Auckland

Long walk but worth it.

Whatipu, located in Waitakere, New Zealand.

The Essence of Waitakere

Waitakere, Auckland, New Zealand