Local firm wins park design job

Avail Pacific's Mark Williamson (left), Pip Bolton (third left) and Tui Slater (right) with Hundertwasser Park Charitable Trust members Johnson Davis, Noma Shepherd (chairwoman) and Pita Tipene, ready to take the next big step. The tototoko stick was presented to Hundertwasser by Kevin Prime when the now-famous toilets he designed were opened.

Kawakawa's Hundertwasser Park project has taken another major step forward with the awarding of the design and architectural component to Kerikeri firm Avail Pacific.

Trust chairwoman Noma Shepherd said the park, which had been a vision of the trust since 2008, would include a workshop space, gallery, library and Far North district council service centre, a cafe and visitor information centre.

The trust had been working with project partners over recent months to brief, review and choose the right design team and architects for the job.

That team had now been appointed, and work on the concept and design had begun.

Avail Pacific had won the contract with an inspiring interpretation of the brief, which was to create a living building in the heart of Kawakawa that would not only honour Friedensreich Hundertwasser's life in Kawakawa, share his stories, his philosophy, love of art, architecture, ecology and conservation of the environment, but equally importantly would symbolise the connection of tangata whenua, the values of kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga, and that the community would feel comfortable in and use.

Trustee Pita Tipene said Avail Pacific had a natural affinity with what the trust is trying to develop, and that he, as a representative of Ngati Hine, believed would best integrate the values and principles that the iwi wanted to see reflected in the buildings design and function.

Avail Pacific said it was passionate about creating and building natural buildings, and would look to incorporate natural elements such as earth, straw and timber, as well as exploring holistic and sustainable treatment of on-site water, waste and solar energy, and a holistic connect to the uses within the building and the environment.

Concepts and the design would be further developed over the summer, a process that would engage local groups, schools, the business/resident association, iwi, hapu and the wider community through this year and next.

"Designs are the first step. Once they have been agreed to by the trust a project plan will be developed, along with the fundraising and construction phases," Mrs Shepherd added.

"If you are interested in becoming part of the HPCT project team, please contact us, as we really want to integrate a full range of local people, passion and skills to bring the project to life."