T U R A N G A W A E W A E | A L T O N A
A place to stand: A new Marae for Melbourne
Master of Architecture | RMIT University
March - June 2015
A place to stand: A new Marae for Melbourne
Master of Architecture | RMIT University
March - June 2015
Maori - Retrieved from http://www.beforethey.com/media/images/Maori/maori-16.jpg
Introduction
For the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, the Marae is space that provides a focus for each community. Connected to the concept of Turangawaewae, which translates as "a place to stand", the Marae is a place of connection to both landscape and ancestry. It is a place of debate, support, celebration and mourning.
This studio will explore how such a place could be designed outside of New Zealand, without ancestral or historical connection to a place, and without a belonging to any one iwi, or Maori tribal group. A contemporary reinvention of the traditional Marae to create a new place to stand, in Melbourne. A Place to Stand will explore complex design questions, of the connections between Maori and non Maori New Zealand immigrants, of the relationships between New Zealand and Australia, tradition and invention, urban and suburban.
This project is the vision of Marae Melbourne, a group representing Maori living in Melbourne (there are 140170,000 Maori in Australia). It is their ambition that the design work produced in the studio will be used to develop a fully realised facility. Other partner groups in this studio will be the Melbourne Storm Rugby League club, the City of Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay City Council.
This studio will explore how such a place could be designed outside of New Zealand, without ancestral or historical connection to a place, and without a belonging to any one iwi, or Maori tribal group. A contemporary reinvention of the traditional Marae to create a new place to stand, in Melbourne. A Place to Stand will explore complex design questions, of the connections between Maori and non Maori New Zealand immigrants, of the relationships between New Zealand and Australia, tradition and invention, urban and suburban.
This project is the vision of Marae Melbourne, a group representing Maori living in Melbourne (there are 140170,000 Maori in Australia). It is their ambition that the design work produced in the studio will be used to develop a fully realised facility. Other partner groups in this studio will be the Melbourne Storm Rugby League club, the City of Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay City Council.
Site Location
The site of the project is located on the current location of Pines Scout Camp. It is significant as a unique cultural landscape, which is notable for distinctive and quirky entrance gates and archway and the mature trees throughout the site.
The west of the site is mainly the Altona town area comprising of housings, Altona Sports Club, Hobsons Bay Fishing Club, H C Kim Reserve and Cherry Lake. The industrial zone is located on the North of the site whereas the Altona Coastal Park will be on the East side. On its South, the coast is located 200m away from the site.
The west of the site is mainly the Altona town area comprising of housings, Altona Sports Club, Hobsons Bay Fishing Club, H C Kim Reserve and Cherry Lake. The industrial zone is located on the North of the site whereas the Altona Coastal Park will be on the East side. On its South, the coast is located 200m away from the site.
Site Conditions
Design Concept
D i a g r a m 2
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D i a g r a m 1
The final design strongly emphasizes the concept of allocating the three buildings under one roof of the Marae meeting house (Diagram 1). It’s orientation is responded to the location of existing carpark as well as the direction of the coast (water element).
The roof structure is inspired by the Kaokao pattern that also articulates the interior spaces and circulation. As maori believes that the truss of the meeting house represents the human ribs whereas the roof represents the skin, the architecture aims to explore the relationship between the ribs and skin of the building (Diagram 2). |
Drawings
The roof element stretches out and flows into the existing landscape. The roof membrane is utilized to create a reflective ponds near the porch space by collecting and directing the rain water from the roof. The water element is important for the Maori people especially for removing the tapu (forbidden; taboo) of the visitors during the ceremony.
From the gate entrance, visitors will be invited by the large atea space (ceremony space) right in front of the design. A generous porch is designed behind the atea as a space for resting and informal meeting.
The WhareNui (for sleeping and meeting) becomes the gateway into the building. It is divided into two levels to accommodate male and female users.
The large central flex space is designed to connect the three buildings together.
The WhareKai (for dining and eating) is facing a rain garden where the large roof membrane pours water and creates waterfall during raining.
Together with the box beam structure, the roof membrane creates unique architectural moments inside the design.
Top view of the 1 to 100 model shows the concept of three different buildings house under one roof
Model Gallery
