Hannah's hut

Abstract

Reputable for its beautiful scenery, New Zealand’s natural landscape is precious to our identity. Tramping is a huge part of New Zealand’s outdoor culture. One of the key features of this outdoor culture is the network of tramping huts enjoyed by many people, locals and visitors alike. The key purpose of the Department of Conservation (DOC) huts within New Zealand’s Conservation estate is shelter. There is little attempt for the huts to reflect their natural context or the people who use them. In this respect, existing DOC huts are RIGID. As a country with strong Pacific/Oceanic origins, the Māori culture similarly contributes largely towards our identity. DOC, however, does not intentionally manifest these origins in its architecture, overlooking New Zealand’s Māori heritage. Although elements of the DOC huts are successful, they do not facilitate the level of integration between people, natural context and built form that I am proposing. With a focus on particular Māori values, this research aims to investigate how the relationships between people, natural context and built form can be strengthened; hence challenging the rigidity of existing DOC huts. While encouraging these relationships, the proposed outcome seeks to maintain and intensify the New Zealand tramping hut culture. This culture lies in the rituals of cooking, eating and gathering. Prior to, during and following a meal, various people gather together, play cards, chat, tell stories and meet new people. It is these interactions that are fundamental to the overall experience of tramping. DOC has proposed developing end of road sites with a tailored, more ‘comfortable’ hut typology compared to a typical backcountry hut - ‘glamping’ (glamorous camping). This glamping culture introduces certain luxuries of the home environment into the outdoors experience. People do not have to hike to reach these huts or carry necessities on their backs. Hence, there is an opportunity for a wider demographic of people to be able to enjoy what the New Zealand landscape has to offer. Ngapotiki Reserve on the South Wairarapa coast is the chosen location from which to test this proposition. Five ‘criteria’, derived from Māori values and architectural concepts are studied throughout this research, informing the design iterations. These are as follows; proximity + orientation, human scale, community, between-ness and responsiveness. The proposed outcome addresses these five criteria and forms a strong relationship between people, natural context and built form. Through strengthening these relationships, ‘Hannah’s Hut’ challenges the rigidity of existing DOC huts.