MAPPING in the 21st century

A vlog showing the process of mapping of a specific urban area using multiple media available to us in the 21st century

WELLINGTON TOURISM at its best

One of New Zealand’s most significant pieces of architecture and heritage – a neo-gothic cathedral built entirely of native timbers – many tourists visit Old St Paul’s where I work as curator each Sunday.

MANUFACTURED NATURE navigation in a virtual environment

DESIGN CHALLENGE

The aim of this project was to create an interactive environment which navigates through and between 3 different environments; above, below and on.

RESPONSE

my approach to this design challenge was inspired by Klein Dytham's Leaf Chapel. I wanted to explore the tensions between built and natural environments and whether a manufactured natural environment does actually qualify as nature and also to challenge assumptions created by a strict chronology of environments and experiences.

Beginning in a utopian-style garden, appearing as an 'on' environment, you are lead to dive through a pool in the middle of the island by a rock arch rising triggered by a stepping stone.

This transports you through to the below environment, a labyrinthine architectural interpretation of the garden, which culminates in the whole front of the building raising to reveal the true 'on' environment outside.

Up until this point the whole navigation has been through crossing water but when you go outside you realise you are in the middle of a desert and everything you have previously known is completely manufactured.

TE WIKI O TE REO MAORI māori language week

Maori language is a language on the uprise! Statistics show that more and more New Zealanders (of both Maori and non-Maori descent) are learning te reo maori each year.

To celebrate te wiki o te re maori I will be posting a short phrase to learn each day - please feel free to add more!

A great place to learn the language including pronounciation is the Korero Maori website.