..... New Zealand ....... Grant Harris ......

Grant Harris, Whangarei, New Zealand

Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2002 : Blue Mountains Master Class 2012

[ alpine : extreme climate : remote : modular : steel : timber : awards ]

Knoll Ridge Café, Tongariro National Park, North Island, New Zealand

Grant Harris, Kerry Reyburn, Ben Brown : Harris Butt Architecture

On Mt Ruapheu, at least one cloud has proved to have a silver lining: a café on Knoll Ridge destroyed by fire has been replaced with a dramatically sited building that rewards, with interest, a two chair-lift ascent. This is audacious architecture, realised in collaboration with . . . a client determined to make the most of a breathtaking setting. The exterior is strong and formally poetic; the 400-seat interior, with its large, laminated pine structural members, is just as impressive. All of the building’s elements, from decks to kitchen to handrail details, have received careful treatment. The building is a fine example of architectural grace achieved under logistical pressure, in an extreme alpine environment.

New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards Citation 2012

Knoll Ridge Cafe is located at approximately 2,010 meters above sea level at Whakapapa Ski Field on Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park. The site was given World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1990 and in 1993 was also granted cultural World Heritage status. The site is one of only a handful around the world with this dual status, which was extremely influential in the consideration of the building design. Situated on the side of a mountain, the commercial ski field is also sited on what is New Zealand’s largest active volcano.

The form of the building reflects the strong geological features of the mountain. The “gull wing” appears to cradle the mountain peak. On a practical level it is used to manage the snow. Timber was used extensively inside and out to create the warm feeling of a traditional mountain chalet without adopting the traditional form. The large glazed exterior allows for full exposure to the view of the pinnacle ridge. A key design requirement was to allow occupants clear views of the high peaks, and glazed walls have been sloped out at the top to reduce reflections in the landscape.

In February 2009, the original café was burned down. On a typical day the new facility handles up to 6,500 people with indoor dining for 400 and outdoor dining for 200. Due to the logistical difficulties in building in a remote and climatically difficult location, most of the elements were modularized and fabricated in workshops off-site, including concrete floor panels dragged in over the snow, and roof sandwich panels, wall and glazed units flown in by helicopter.

Extreme wind and snow loads have had to be considered. Main interior columns are steel faced with

Macrocarpa

timber, external columns are laminated pine, interior wood linings are

Lawson Cypress

The building is heavily insulated and has a simple heating system to dry out excess moisture.

DESIGN CURIAL 2015

Best designed café in the World

NEW ZEALAND ARCHITECTURE AWARD 2012

Commercial Architecture

Photography : Sharon Mazey (1 - 2) and Simon Divett (3 - 9)

Harris Butt Architecture :

http://www.hbarchitecture.co.nz/news.html

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.or

Lindsay Johnston19 July 2016

Juan Carlos Eugene Soler : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2001

54th Central Glass International Design Competition, Tokyo, Japan

‘Architecture That Generates New Sakariba’ - 2019

The Japanese ‘Central Glass International Design Competitions’ have been run each year since 1966. The 2019 competition attracted 188 international entries. Seven were shortlisted and Eugene’s entry was placed second.

[ theoretical proposition, metaphor, solar energy, technology, sustainability, community ]

‘MOON LANDING’

It is in our deepest primal instinct as social beings that people gather in a communal place that gives us a sense of culture and belonging. We gather around the warmth and wonder of campfire under the stars and share memories and stories. Or by day, under the cool shade of a tree- a natural place to meet a lover or exchange knowledge. Such place that delivers these conditions perhaps is the genesis of ‘Sakariba’.

The proposal is a massive balloon structure that can create and harness energy from the Sun whilst defining space underneath its volume, where people of all ages can gather to meet, play or ‘hangout’. The ‘Moon Landing’ hopes to create a central place for gathering where business and commerce are encouraged and generate ‘Sakariba’.

On a hot summer or rainy day, people can gather under its shade. On a cloudy day, the balloon structure can rise above the clouds where it can efficiently harness energy from the Sun. At night, it becomes a light source and a signal to attract people and when it descends it creates a space where people can gather around its warm glow. The ‘Moon Landing’ has all these features at the same time providing sustainable energy to its local community.

This idea is not science fiction but actually a very feasible means of efficiently combining what is currently being developed in balloon technology, sustainability, science and art. What is new is the realignment of technology to create a more poetic and meaningful purpose to reinvigoration local culture, religion, myths and stories, which is appropriate when it needs to be integrated in local communities. Especially to the 25% of the world’s population which has no or lack access to electricity. Such space offers a wonderful chance for the community to be activated, bring people together and encourage businesses and various activities.

By combining a strong metaphor with technology and sustainability- the proposal hopes to address not only the community’s basic needs but also hopes to give a deep importance and meaning in local culture and tradition to bring people together and organically for business growth and generate a ‘New Sakariba’

Moreover, in a world where we have Internet connection but seem to be ‘disconnected’- the ‘Moon Landing’ can be a benefit to existing ‘Sakariba’ not only to reduce the abundant energy we are drowning in, but also to remind us to look up and realize our place in the Universe and encourage real connection with each other.

Architect : Eugene Soler

Awards : 54th Central Glass International Design Competition _ Second Place

Web site : http://www.ateliersoler.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org