Abstract:
The Ihumātao peninsula, located on the shores of Auckland’s Manukau Harbour, is considered one of the most significant sites in New Zealand. Layered with historical, cultural, geological, and ecological importance, the richness of the site necessitates an inherent need for great care and sensitivity. This thesis explores the tapestry of visible and invisible narratives of the site and provides an exploratory and optimistic view for restoring parts of the existing landscape to a pre-European dairy farming era, one which recognises the centuries of developments in traditional Māori horticulture and the connections of people with the land.
The thesis brings to question whether architecture can be healing and restorative rather than destructive to the environment. With ecology and nature placed at the forefront, architecture takes on a supporting role in the restorative endeavour. Architectural methods of collaging, drawing, and modelling are used to document and convey the layers of meaning found on site. A series of carefully placed, experimental, small-scale interventions have been designed to support the facilitation of the regeneration of the natural landscape. Creating interventions that are small yet have a significant impact.