ways of seeing
Prehistoric Zealandia
Al pi n
Strike-Slip Zone
Australian Plate
Subduction Zone
Antarctic Plate
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t ul a F
ran gi M argi n
Hiku
Subduction Zone
Pacific Plate
destination: NEW ZEALAND Straddling the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, New Zealand is home to a diverse collection of dynamic geological phenomena. “Ways of Seeing� recognizes these conditions as part of a continuum of physical and ecological cycles where postcard landscapes are only a snapshot in millennia of continuous landform evolution. While exploring new and sublime conditions, this XRef proposal will embrace the cyclical cause and effect of our physical surroundings to cultivate plural and deeper ways of seeing.
purpose: UNDERLYING SYSTEMS
Strik Transf
Australian Plate Subduction Zone
New Zealand’s land mass has been formed over 60 million years. The southern peninsula is lifted by the subduction of the Australian Plate, the Southern Alps are being created through horizontal plate rifting, and the north island is highly volcanic due to the uplifting of hot magma from the subduction of the Pacific Plate. The diversity of these plate conditions is unique and dynamic resulting in highly energetic faults, active volcanos, and powerful earthquake zones. The country’s most notable landscapes can be seen as momentary icons in its history of everchanging geology.
65 Ma (million years ago): Zealandia, the future New Zealand, separated from Gondwanaland by sea floor spreading.
55 Ma: Zealandia is drifting slowly north-east and sinking.
40 Ma: Subduction begins in the north and some rifting in the south.
23 Ma: Subduction zone extends southwards, maximun submergence of Zealandia.
Pacific Plate Subduction Zone
ke-Slip orm Fault
20 Ma: Vigorous plate collision establiished, volcanism in Northland.
10 Ma: Compression of the New Zealand landmass.
5 Ma: Uplift of Southern Alps and erosion, extension of northern volcanism.
Present Day New Zealand: Sustained plate collision along Alpine Fault with subduction to north and south.
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AUKLAND’S VOLCANIC CONES
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CATHEDRAL COVE, COROMANDEL PENINSULA
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WAITOMO CAVES & GLOW WORMS
DEVIL’S BATH, ROTORUA
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Travel itinerary will center around New Zealand’s most unique geological sites including hydrological, volcanic, and geothermal wonders and the ecology those unique conditions support.
AUTHUR’S PASS MILFORD SOUND
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QUEENSTOWN
CHRIST
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INVERCARGILL
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MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS
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CASTLE HILL & ARTHUR’S PASS
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PANCAKE ROCKS, PUNAKAIKI
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MOUNT HOOD & SOUTHERN ALPS
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CHAMPAGNE POOL, WAI-O-TAPU
WAIREKI WHITE SILICA TERRACES
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AUCKLAND
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COLUMNAR BASALT
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MOUNT TARANAKI
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MILFORD SOUND & FIORDLAND
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HAMILTON
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TAURANGA
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ROTORUA
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PALMERSTON NORTH
TAUPO KAIKOURA
TCHURCH
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FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER
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CLAY CLIFFS, OAMARU
MOERAKI
15 BOULDERS, OTAGO
Limestone Formations Limestone formations began forming 30 million years ago, when lime-rich fragments of dead marine creatures were deposited on the seabed, then overlaid by weaker layers of soft mud and clay. The seabed was raised above sea level by earthquakes to form the coastal cliffs and coastline. The sea, wind and rain have since etched out the soft layers to form the unusual rock formations we see today.
Ice Sculpting As glaciers began to run from the peaks of the mountains down to the coast, they formed the crevices called fjords. Towering chunks of rocks were shifted from one side to another, and when the ice melted 10,000 years ago they were displaced further.
This exploation is distinctively sectional in nature, defined by the geometry of local geological conditions. The diagram above shows the sectional variety the trip will encounter.
Tectonic Uplift The Southern Alps are being uplifted along fault lines by up to a centimeter a year due to tectonic collision at the plate boundary that crosses New Zealand. Flat terraces along the coasts also indicate where uplift has occurred.
Columnar Basalt During the cooling of a thick lava flow, contractional joints or fractures form. If a flow cools relatively rapidly, significant contraction forces build up. While a flow can shrink in the vertical dimension without fracturing, it can't easily accommodate shrinking in the horizontal direction unless cracks form; the extensive fracture network that develops results in the formation of columns, predominantly hexagonal in cross-section.
Drowned Landscapes In some areas, the sea has flooded ancient landscapes. The Marlborough Sounds are a large network of ancient river valleys that have been drowned by the subsidence of the earth’s crust on the western side of Cook Strait. Rising sea levels following the last ice age have added to the immersion of this landscape.
Caves Groundwater is usually slightly acidic, and slowly dissolves cavities into the limestone bedrock to create underground tunnels and passages. As the water cuts ever deeper pathways through the rock, it leaves behind drier passages at higher levels. Caves at Waitomo are known for a glowworm species found exclusively in New Zealand. The environment is closely monitored for air quality, carbon dioxide levels, rock and air temperature, and humidity.
Geothermal Ecosystems Geothermal ecosystems have a longitudinal zonation, which means the plant and animal life changes with distance from the heat and geothermal fluid source. This makes these areas small “islands” of unique and specialized species and communities. Their physical characteristics include high temperatures, highly mineralized soils and waters, extreme pH, infertile soils, and the presence of toxic metals and gases.
Volcanic Fields Volcanic fields including Auckland and Northland, are where small eruptions occurred over a wide geographic area, and over thousands of years in time. Each eruption creates a new single volcano, that never erupts twice. Instead the volcanic “hot spot” remains stationar, as the tectonic plate shifts above. Mount Eden and Rangitoto Island are examples in Auckland.
documentation: MAPPINGS
Financial
Geological/Hydrological
Cultural
Hydrological
Inspired by the work of Alexander von Humboldt (1800’s) and Edward Tufte (today), the proposed “deliverables” of the XRef exploration will be a series of mappings that expose and illuminate the underlying systems, or the cyclical cause that create the physical effect of New Zealand’s landscapes. The aim of these mappings Is to create a link between the seen and celebrated, and the unseen and obscured.
Von Humboldt’s mapping from Kosmos, 1845.
Geological
Volcanic
Ecologiclal
Volcanic
$1,200b
$62k
$190/sf
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$150/sf
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$130/sf
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$110/sf
STUDENT LOAN DEBT*
MEDIAN INCOME**
HOME PRICES***
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stude 2001
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Source: * Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (US), Student Loans Owned and Securitized, Outstanding [SLOAS] ** 2016 Census ACS data *** S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index© [CSUSHPINSA]
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how:
Similar to the ecological and geological cycles on New Zealand, young rising cost of education, stagnate wages, and a second wave of home small living through the “Tiny House” movement or better yet, #VanLife
The goals of this XRef exploration include challenging myself to live “ult and travel, I will be able to leverage the impact of the travel grant towar in the van and booking flights through flight-error finding services, such
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people today face economic and cultural cycles that define their current economic position. Due to the inflation, young people have given up on the American Dream of homeownership and have capitalized on e.
tralight,” in minimal quarters, for as long as financially possible. By combining the requirement for housing rd extending the exploration itinerary. Other “ultralight” solutions include: cooking food with the kitchenette h as Scott’s Cheap Flights.
2017
Pop-up fiberglass reinforced top. Air vent with fan. Screened window with zippered flap (also provides access to luggage rack). Luggage rack. Weather-resistant canvas sides. Extra double bed or storage. Ceiling lighting. Insulated wall panels. Curtains for privacy. Dining table. Upholstered bench converts to a double bed. Storage locker. Two burner gas stove. Mini refrigerator. Sink with electric pump and 5.8 gallon water tank. Snack table. 90-degree driver and 180-degree passenger swivel seats.
means:
The proposed means of travel and shelter for the XRe accommodates many programs including traveling, sl functions to mobilize the user’s home rather than facil swiss army knife of travel, this agile design supports t
45’ conspicious consumption 15’ adventure enabler
ef exploration will be a modest campervan. Shown here, the Volkswagen Westfalia Vanagon leeping, cooking, dining, socializing, and storage. In contrast to a typical Recreation Vehicle, which litating recreation, the Vanagon rejects superfluous features and only caters to enabling adventure. The he goal of ultralight living through its effortless adaptability for any scenario.
goals:
Explore New Zealand’s myriad of geological phenomena, including hydrological, volcanic, and geothermal wonders, and the ecology those unique conditions support.
Create a series of “mappings� to illustrate a new understanding of the cyclical cause and effect of millions of years through highly volatile tectonic and geological pressures, literally at two edges of the earth.
Challenge my cultural understanding by living in the smallest footprint possible; trading creature comforts for the experiences offered through ultralight living.
curtains
trekking poles mirror fold out bed frame
xref
storage shelf
tec
bedding
mo ha
rug
light storage
view
food
storage
mirror towel water
sink
fer
stove
ch
oveable mmock
fold out desk
books
storage
storage
storage