The south Pacific influence on New Zealand architecture

Abstract

This report looks at the influence the South Pacific has on the architecture of New Zealand by looking at three case studies from three architects. The architects were selected because they have been sited in publications as being influenced by the South Pacific or they have been selected by their name. The practices or practitioners are David Mitchell, Rewi Thompson and Nicholas Barret-Boyes, Ezven Novak and Stephen Mc Dougall of Studio of Pacific Architecture. The conclusions that are made are that it is difficult to make an overall connection to the South Pacific in Mitchell's and Studio's work, though Mitchell stated no intention to do so. Both projects work with an abstraction of ideas and forms that are based on the region and not a particular country and the South Pacific references are with details such as screens and use of outdoor spaces. Thompson on the other hand is dealing with the Maori culture and successfully presents a contemporary interpretation of Maori culture and society.