Rock With Lots Of Holes

Abstract

We perceive our surroundings differently when fully engaged with them. Interactions with spaces begin to define our experience of the world. This research is a modern story of matter and philosophy, investigating the rock Scoria to produce a series of public architectural spaces that uniquely engage with the beholder. By taking part in the Material Imaginaries Research Collective - AUT Spatial Design department - I ask the following: 'What is our world made of? How might an expanded sense of 'material' and a focus on meaning, provenance, story, and performance recast how we make space?' With an imaginary read on the rock Scoria, the research explores both abstract and tangible ways to unfold a narrative of matter. Engaging with geographical, cultural, and social aspects that define the scoriaceous element and its connection to the “Tamaki Makaurau Volcanic landscape” (Tūpuna Maunga Authority). The exploration of Scoria's materiality becomes the driving aspect of the study, bridging learning and processes into practice-led research to uncover the existing history of the volcanic rock, challenging conventional methods and developing Le Mappe Del Mondo, Lavoro Manuale, and Il Giornale as a creative alternative to organize the various tools and techniques that shape the creative practice. The choice to incorporate Italian terminology becomes a playful way to acknowledge my background through the research. The project wishes to provide a set of interventions that engage with the geographical heritage features of Tāmaki Makarau in shaping a collection of public gathering spaces that activate unfurnished and unutilized areas around the territory. By celebrating the Tūpuna Maunga to showcase the heritage values associated with preserving those sites and considering the broader landscape's role in supporting our growth as a society. By providing a range of public spaces for the collective, such as gatherings and recreation, the designer considers all the components to ensure “sustainable” (Project for Public Spaces) city life engagement.