Out of Context: 'Scaling-up' a Small Town, Suburban Site

Abstract

‘Scale-Up’. Noun. An increase in size, quantity or activity according to a fixed scale or proportion.

Out of Context explores the potential to ‘scale-up’ a small town, suburban site.

Attributing iconic landscapes, a warm climate, affordable housing and convenient commuter access to the city, Kapiti Coast is well positioned to become a highly attractive place to live, work and study. Despite its potential, the district’s small town appeal has been tarnished by the characterless form of its townscape and lack of opportunities for its burgeoning youth. All of which, seeks to limit its capacity for future economic and community growth.

This thesis proposes the design of a ‘flexible’ Polytechnic as an opportunity to attract young talent and to enhance the character of a pivotal suburban site in Paraparaumu: Kapiti’s regional centre. Positioned at the foothills - attributing attractive views and a rich natural landscape – current development of the site suggests a continuation of the region’s affinity for suburban sprawl.

The proposition to ‘scale-up’ the site is seen as a critical opportunity to consider how Kapiti might accommodate growth without compromising its small town appeal. And subsequently, how architecture might act to uncover the site’s ambitious potential.

The proposition is addressed through a series of design-led inquiries which react to the contextual opportunities and constraints of ‘scaling-up’ as they arise. The design begins in a speculative fashion, aspiring to enhance the character of the site through form. While later experiments are concerned with strategies to contextualize the form in relation to the small town fabric which confronts it.

Through the design, a series of tensions were revealed concerning the design of a ‘relatively big’ building in a small town, suburban setting. This leads to a discussion regarding the significance of pursuing a highly specific, collective Polytechnic in Kapiti.