An adaptive reuse of New Zealand's Government House
Grounding is an explorative research-based project, which explores a speculative future scenario - in which the crown is no longer evident in New Zealand. Allowing Kaupapa Maori and Mātauranga Maori to guide future environments and allow New Zealand to form its identity, one we can connect and engage with.
Since 1840 New Zealand Has transitioned from a Maori world into a European one. Indigenous culture and beliefs have been suppressed, being replaced by a genealogically unrelated society with no spiritual connection to the land. Colonisation brought war, diseases, famine, violence, and the destruction and violation of the Maori's cultural laws, sacred sites, families, and communities. Maori were denied their knowledge, language, ceremonies, and identity. The very things that tell us who we are and where we belong. The connections with each other and the land in which we stand has grown weak. Government House portrays aspects of New Zealand colonial history but acts as a symbol for the negative things that have occurred in our past. Grounding aims to connect our society back to papatūānuku bringing physical and emotional balance and strength, and an overall better well being to Aotearoa.
The grounding starts in 2010 when the rebuild of the Government house stops, instead the crown's hierarchy and power is stripped, the roof, ceilings, exterior walls, and floors are all removed, allowing the space to be open to all and the beginning of the grounding process. A 40 year performative piece occurs on the land, allowing kaupapa Maori, mātuaranga Maori and nature to guide future environments. Temporary inhabitants inhabit the space, using the existing to portray Marae protocol. In doing so allowing the land to form a new identity. Nature takes precedent and the bones of the government house slowly decay, being decomposed back into papatūānku and allowing new generations to rebuild.
Goals:
Open to all
Community-led
Protection of local landscape
Sustainability
Spiritual connection of land
Knowledge and understanding of community history, identity, and character
No expected way to act
Community-led
Protection of local landscape
Sustainability
Spiritual connection of land
Knowledge and understanding of community history, identity, and character
No expected way to act
The existing bones of the govt house act as place holders for future scenarios as the grounding occurs, giving the land itself a new identity
Grounding allows us to be connected, physically, spiritually, spatially, and historically, slowing down the rhythm of life. The Kaupapa Maori theory is not a theoretical framework that provides answers by following a set recipe, instead the theory is flexible and adaptable to fit the nature of Maori communities and structures.
