Pariwhero, an exploration of place through making

Honouring our landscape through design allows for a deeper connection to place. Respecting Papatūānuku, our Earth Mother, is vital in both our culture and spatial practice. Treading lightly on our environment can be achieved by incorporating circular thinking into our interiors. This concept is inspiring, not only because it reduces our carbon footprint, but it challenges our design philosophy and allows for the creation of timeless and meaningful interventions.

This research project utilises this thinking through unveiling forms and colours found within Pariwhero, Red Rocks. This is achieved through performative, site-specific explorations such as cyanotype, and earth pigment. It embodies my personal, highly curated experience of Pariwhero in the form of interior elements such as furniture and colour applications. Ideas derived from place and beauty, nature based aesthetics, and a critique on over consumption in the spatial practice play critical roles throughout this project.

Site-specific design explorations, combined with the cinematic qualities of film photography are used in collaboration with material poetics and performative methodologies throughout. This process showcases a highly curated selection of investigations, such as; beeswax casting, cyanotype, foraging, and pigment making. It is about trying the what if’s, and most importantly, keeping an open mind during this process. Beauty in nature, circular thinking, and timeless design are highlighted as the design moves across different scales, from jewellery and furniture, to finishes that translate into spatial practice. As an individual entering the interior architecture industry, I use this thesis to explore my connection to place while developing my kaupapa, or values and principles. This research is intended to be used within the interior architecture industry to support the connection to place.