Our Stories Begin with the Trees

The establishment of Aotearoa/New Zealand's conservation estate was primarily influenced by the Picturesque Movement and colonial perspective, with little regard for existing cultural or ecological boundaries. Consequently, Aotearoa/New Zealand has a fragmented land patterning where land is either protected or unprotected, developed or undeveloped. Where there are native forests on private land, they often exist in small fragments that undermine their ecological function. Across disciplines, there is a recognition that addressing landscapes must involve their cultural, natural and man-made qualities. 

Three research processes were developed to examine the landscape condition of Taranaki maunga. The first explored myth theory and its role in landscape perception and meaning, with an engagement with local tribal traditions. The second strand involved drawing while hiking as a form of fieldwork to understand the spatial condition of landscapes. Lastly, surveys of four existing DOC huts were completed to understand their design and construction. The measured drawings then became the foundation of the design proposal.

The design proposals involve two exercises; the first proposes alterations to four existing huts, each addressing one of the four elements and acting as a spatial interpretation of a tribal tradition. The final proposal, located on the vacant Lake Dive site, synthesises the strategies from the four alterations and acts as a new hut protocol for Taranaki maunga. In response to the spatial condition of landscapes as a field of dynamic points, the project is a series of dispersed volumes that can be added, reconfigured, or relocated to an alternative site. 

While the conservation estate was founded for recreation, the huts within the Park can encourage an awareness of the diverse values landscapes hold. As a form of cultural expression, architecture can shape landscape perception and, in doing so, influence how we protect all parcels of land in Aotearoa/New Zealand.