Conversations of Flux and Threshold: Generating an architectural language of art and adaptability.

This thesis investigates two architectural interests of mine, creative practice and the architectural threshold. The research unfolds as the relationship between these two interests develop into a dialogue that explores an adaptive architectural language.

This research is situated in the context of Mana, Porirua. Porirua’s rapid development into a city has left behind villages such as Mana, that have not kept up with the fast pace of society. With an expectation for growth, this research proposes a framework for adaptable community space at the centre of the village. The framework aims to densify and activate the suburb and alleviate the car-centric pressures on the pedestrian experience.

What kind of architectural language is produced through challenging the static nature of the architectural threshold and how might this be impacted by my own creative practices?

Following a design-led research structure, my findings through exploratory creative practice work led the research towards the architectural proposal. I developed the relationship between thresholds and creative practices through extensive drawing and model making. By analysing and critically reflecting on this work, an architectural language was revealed. The design proposal was conceived through investigating my interests in creative practice and thresholds through the site in Mana. The result is an adaptive structure that references ideas found in assembly temporality represented through my creative lens.