Social/Architectural Thresholds: Blurring the Boundaries Between Land and Sea at Cox's Bay

Abstract

The central philosophy of Social/ Architectural Thresholds: blurring the Boundaries between land and sea at Cox’s Bay refers to the Samoan concept of va. Va is a social concept that relates to relationships; it connects an individual to their family (aiga), village (nu’u), land (fanua), sea (vasa) and ancestors (tupu’aga).1 I have used the term social thresholds to define va relationships. The term threshold, in an architectural sense can mean a boundary or wall, but it can also mean an onset or passageway. Va relationships act as thresholds that are never static; they are always evolving over time. A person may have a strong connection (open threshold) with their homeland, but migrating to a new country may mean severance of ties (closed threshold). Therefore, this thesis defines va relationships in terms of conceptual (social) and physical (architectural) space. Initially, social thresholds were represented conceptually through the use of three colours: white/ pa’epa’e, blue/lanumoana and black/uliuli. Each of these colours can be used to represent different spatial qualities (white represents liminal space and black can represent dark/mysterious space). Using the colours above, paintings were created to represent the following va relationships: family (aiga), village (nu’u), land (fanua), sea (vasa) and ancestors (tupu’aga). These paintings generated a series of models; as each model developed, the physical threshold (architectural space) for each social threshold began to take shape. The models were implemented onto the site Cox’s Bay in Auckland. Cox’s Bay was once the heart of the Westmere community. However, years of neglect has created strong boundaries between land and sea. The West End road causeway severs public access to the beach, and sewerage overflows restrict people from swimming. The final outcome of this thesis acts as a metaphorical bridge between land and sea at Cox’s Bay. The final design outcome restores the bay over a 50 year period. Starting with a wharf and marshland reserve and ending in a series of man-made islands. The marshland reserve purifies the water of pollutants, while the man-made islands provides access to the sea. The islands will not be made by reclaiming land; they will float and flex with the sea to creating a symbiotic relationship with the natural environment. Thus, by blurring boundaries between land, sea and the community it becomes an architectural space with fluctuating thresholds.