Architecture Through Craft: Community, Composition, and Collage

Abstract

When considering the future of our cities we must look to innovative ways of making to create pockets of joy, connection and self-expression for local communities. Focusing on Rotorua enables an exploration of the interaction between an existing and thriving craft culture and a desire for urban development to restore the vibrancy of the city. Rotorua provides the opportunity to start a conversation on how we think about the future of architecture in New Zealand cities. The thesis delves into three aspects of craft; Community, Composition and Collage. With a focus on uplifting and engaging the community, this thesis explores how craft can form a method of architecture practice to allow local storytelling to be exhibited through Rotorua’s Fenton Street. The ideas found in pattern theories in combination with the process of craft making lends itself to a methodology of creating architecture that can enhance the urban fabric of our regional cities. The composition brought about through the creation of interventions along the Fenton Street corridor results in a connection between existing craft communities and urban development occurring along the lakefront. The emerging collage of these crafted pockets aims to encourage the revitalisation of a city working to create better experiences for its local community and visitors alike. Existing threads of the city that have been left to unravel over time are collaged together with materials, forms and new spaces aiming to address the effort to revitalise Rotorua and its community. It is vital that our regional cities can express their identity through architecture and exhibit the skills and stories of local craft. This thesis proposes an ‘architecture through craft’ method through which we can sew the future of architecture into our urban spaces.