The design aims to address the urban revitalisation of the city centre and to provide a focus on the great cultural energy of South Auckland.The design will acknowledge the need for cultural spaces that enable memory, imagination and anticipation to engage different people by exploring the role of narrative and metaphor in architectural perspectives.

 

In the vibrant, colourful melting pot of cultures lies the contemporary Manukau City, with only a sprinkling of community and cultural buildings that reflect or connect its diverse communities. A new museum, Te Papa North that echos multiculturalism and diverse cultures is proposed. This project will take on an important role for the whole city, acting as a nexus and connecting all paths together within Hayman Park. 

 

My cultural context research led me to explore the interwoven relationship between the cultural artefacts and the narrative potential of creating myths to provide sources of vital orientation for my museum design. I have chosen to focus heavily on 'waka huia' which carries the symbolism of cultures as treasures for my museum.

 

The columns (coloured in light orange) represent Tāne Mahuta, the God of Forest separating his parents, Papatūānuku (The Earth Mother) and Ranginui (The Sky Father) based on the creation genealogy of Maori Universe. The lofty ceiling and significant height difference with wide curtain panels emphasises the openness and welcoming gesture to its surrounding nature and people, while illustrating the story of light entering the realm of a Maori universe.

 

The building form is also heavily inspired by the drawing of Paumotu Creation of the Universe, where the arched canopy represents 'heaven' while different levels in the museum represent different layers of the human realm.