Mario Botta, regionalism, and contemporary New Zealand architecture

Abstract

The following research report is concerned with the philosophies of Swiss architect, Mario Botta in relation to architectural Regionalism. These philosophies are applied to the New Zealand context in order to explain or determine the existence of a contemporary New Zealand architectural regionalism. The report is divided into a trilogy of essays. The first essay introduces Mario Botta and establishes a general model or Regionalism. The second essay develops this model by considering three specific themes central to Botta's regionalistic design philosophies. The themes are: (i) PLACE (ii) HISTORICISM AND CULTURALISM (iii) THE MAN/NATURE RELATIONSHIP The third essay addresses each of the previous three themes in relation to a New Zealand architectural Regionalism. Case studies of five contemporary examples of New Zealand domestic architecture follow this general discussion. These examples will be examined in relation to the concept of Regionalism developed from the philosophies of Mario Botta. The report concludes by suggesting there is evidence of an architectural Regionalism in New Zealand.