Operatic Garden.

.OLIVIA FONG.
Bachelor of Architecture
Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand

Public. Private.
Architectural Design Paper_Second Year

The extension of a garden to the opera house utilizes Te Aro Park directly across the road. This vastly dated, triangular stretch sits in between two narrow streets where traffic speed is a minimum. Because it is the only 'green' space for many workers around this business area, it is inevitably used as somewhat of a resting space, but for many users - it is more of a thoroughfare island to cross the two roads rather than a destination itself, making it unpleasant to rest at.

Park garden seating public space green shared space

This assignment asked us to utilize ideas from the project 'Inside. Outside." I decided to develop the curved form into my design of a new public space at Te Aro Park. The drama in an opera is captured within the chaotic structure of the design with its many twists and turns at every angle. Like the countless emotions experienced at a show, the almost surreal-like seating structure of this park is a representation of that drama. It is ultimately a sculptural reflection of an opera offering different degrees of privacy for its users.

Above: Sketch drawings as developed from Project 'Inside. Outside.'

Above: A breakdown of the materials involved.

PLAN.

Above: Plan. As noted from site observations, the park was used by a high percentage of the public as a crossing island. So why not make it a pleasant or fun experience for them? - without disturbing the users resting at the park. It would be needless to say unrealistic to expect the public to walk around the park.

SECTIONS.