Landscape Architecture Aotearoa - Winter 2016 Issue 01 | Page 19

WINTER 2016 17 of pou beyond boundary markers into a contemporary expression of cultural identification .
The pou at Opoututeka ( Cox ’ s Bay , Westmere ) would be of a modest height of around 12m , whereas the pou on Maungawhau ( Mt Eden ), Takaparawhau ( Bastion Point ) and at Te Rerenga Oraiti ( Point Britomart ) are increasingly tall and massive structures , buildings with a living purpose that people could enter and fill with life .
I imagined the pou on Maungawhau ( Mt Eden ) to be proportional to the obelisk on Maungakiekie ( One Tree Hill ) attempting to a bring balance to these maunga , whilst the pou on Takaparawhau ( Bastion Point ) will bring equilibrium to the tomb of Sir Michael Joseph Savage and represent the endurance of Ngāti Whātua through and beyond colonisation .
The structure envisioned for Te Rerenga Oraiti ( originally Point Britomart ) is positioned at the end of Bledisloe wharf on a direct axis to where the original flagstaff
was located on Point Britomart bluff , providing recognition of our colonial past and the embodied meaning of the flagstaff for Māori and Pākehā . The monumental pou would be comparative in size to the Statue of Liberty , exemplifying the culture and heritage of Aotearoa and establishing itself as an iconic symbol for our nation .
A crowning feature of these pou is the positioning of a light beacon on their tops . A pillar of light is directed straight up , rendering the sites visible by night and forming a terrestrial constellation of iconic landmarks . Each pou is a special site-specific monument , but by combining the light beacons another city wide monument would be formed , giving Auckland a special point of difference and be a reminder that the city was founded on a prophecy of sharing .
CONCLUSION The project aimed to show that indigenous prophecy could add a further relevant dimension to landscape analysis and be a significant driver for design of culturally meaningful landscapes . The design outcomes of this research are ambitious and polemic , but support the suggestion that prophecy is a subject worthy of attention and consideration . This by no means implies that the designs presented are fully resolved ; they are an initial output to be refined and enhanced .
While it is admirable to have aspirations of making Auckland the ‘ world ’ s most livable city ’, we should not lose sight of what we are living for . I propose that a concept such as this could result in Auckland city becoming more livable through intangibles such as pride and ownership . This project provides a unique way to reconnect with past knowledge with designs imbued with respect and acknowledgment of Auckland ’ s cultural history allowing prophetic historical narratives to manifest into everyday life , encouraging a deeper appreciation and understanding of landscape for Māori and Pākehā in Aotearoa . �
SKY TOWER : 328 metres 99 stories
DOWNTOWN TOWER : 167 metres 50 stories
VERO TOWER : 170 metres 51 stories
ASCOT METROPOLIS : 155 metres 47 stories
ANZ CENTRE : 143 metres 43 stories
PWC TOWER : 142 metres 43 stories
TE RERENGA POU POINT BRITOMART : 328 metres 99 stories
TAKAPARAWHAU POU BASTION POINT : 40 metres 12 stories
MAUNGAKIEKIE - ONE TREE HILL OBELISK : 33 metres 10 stories
MAUNGAWHAU POU MT EDEN : 23 metres 7 stories
OPUTUTEKA POU : Cox ’ s Bay , Westmere 10 metres 3 stories