A model showing a landmark building on the Kapiti Boating Club site in Maclean Park.
A model showing a landmark building on the Kapiti Boating Club site in Maclean Park.
A small group of architecture students who are developing ideas for a Kapiti Island biosecurity and visitor centre at Paraparaumu Beach exhibited their work-in-progress during the weekend.
The students are all studying in their final year of a professional masters degree in architecture at Victoria University, Wellington.
In this final year, students research design techniques, challenge conventions, and explore new possibilities through the development of a single architectural design project with an academic supervisor.
The six students - Elise Cautley, Jason Tan, Callum Leslie, Ryan Esselink, William Hope and Joe Batchelor - who displayed their work in the Basement Artworks Gallery, Paraparaumu Beach, during the weekend, are all working with Sam Kebbell, a senior lecturer at Victoria University and a practising architect at KebbellDaish Architects.
"A new visitor centre would be part of the urban and coastal infrastructure for Paraparaumu Beach, so it is vital to consider the connections it can make, not just between the mainland and Kapiti Island, but also between the town, landscape, community, and tourists," Dr Kebbell said.
Joe's project used "photogenic composition of architecture" to create a landmark building on the site of the existing Kapiti Boating Club; the building would include updated boating facilities, tourism operating facilities and a large visitor centre.
Ryan's project used the existing roundabout on Marine Pde/Kapiti Rd to create a "monument to nature" that included an i-Site, exhibition space and bio security space" as well as a pedestrian overbridge, which linked to the shopping and beach areas and wound its way into a forested courtyard in the roundabout.
A model featuring creative use of the Marine Parade / Kapiti Rd roundabout.
Jason's project involved created an underground concrete bunker nestled in Maclean Park dunes with included a bio-security centre, cafe, mini natural history museum as well as changing rooms.
Callum's project used a gridded guide to create a visitor's centre and a series of posts, pools, planters and gardens, south of the stream in Maclean Park, where "these areas become a lens through which we can measure the environment and the spatial qualities it brings".
Elise's project looked at Kapiti Island and "explores the possibilities of building infrastructure for playing in some of New Zealand's revered native bush".
William's project moved away from the coastline and focused on creating a building in the Paraparaumu Domain area to celebrate local events, festivals and sporting competitions.
Kapiti mayor K Gurunathan said, "The architecture students have given us some really creative blue-sky thinking and options that show the potential of Paraparaumu Beach to provide an awesome gateway to our iconic Kapiti Island.
"What is holding this, and any other idea back, at the moment, is the ability of ratepayers to fund any big projects.
"We need outside investment.
"We need to continue to explore our options."
Department of Conservation partnerships manager Rob Stone said, "We support creative input and elegant design solutions, so we welcome the involvement of Wellington's creative minds and will continue to work with the community on any viable and practical designs.
"As outlined in the Wellington Conservation Management Strategy, we can see potential for a better visitor experience on the mainland side, and to sell the story of Kapiti Island.
"We're actively working with Kapiti Coast District Council and iwi to figure out what this might look like.
