31.10.2023 Joshua Hetherington
Portfolio The body of work represented in this portfolio reflects the various design assignments I completed during my four years at
Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. For other assignments, such as structural documentation, please feel free to contact me.
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Contents
02 04 10 Contents
P1 - Te Huānui
P2 - Te Papa Redesign
"In making a building and thus making a life, one inevitably shapes the end of that building, the end of that life." Peter Schnedier, "The house at the end of time" (2001).
"The landscape is neither fixed nor passive but changing and active, demanding extension and reinvention. What is being recovered is not the landscape of scenes and objects but the landscape of history, operations, and synthetic strategies." Steed, Sean. “Codification through Cartography: Remembering Owen’s Lake”. In Kirsty Badenoch and Sayan Skandarajah (eds). Cartographies of the Imagination, London: Blissets, 2021. P. 102.
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P3 - Embracing the Eternal Return
P4 - Fragmented Memories
Contact
(04) Te Huānui
The “Deconstructing Boundaries” project is a design endeavor specifically focused on the design for Te Huānui - Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington Gateway Project. Its primary objective is to craft a landmark architecture proposal for the university gateway that embodies the concept of deconstructing boundaries while being responsive to dynamic site contexts. In response to the dynamic site contexts, the project takes an offset pivot as its guiding principle. It effectively addresses the distinct alignments of The Terrace, the orientation of the Gordon Wilson Flats, the Kelburn Campus, and the ascending path up the hill. The building’s structure intelligently implies three different entrances situated at varying levels throughout the site. Additionally, the scale of the building adapts to harmonize with the grandeur of the Gordon Wilson Flats and the more intimate, smaller-scale structures that encompass the surrounding area. This approach allows the design to propose a radical and noteworthy landmark while still specting the existing built environment in its vicinity. Right: Three rendered elevation views - views from North West, North East, South East.
“I make, remake and unmake my concepts along a moving horizon, from an always decentered centre, from an always displaced periphery which repeats and differentiates them.” Gilles Deleuze. "Difference and Repetition". Translated by Paul Patton. New York: Columbia University Press, 1968. p. xxi.
The quote above holds pivotal significance as it has been instrumental in inspiring and representing my work throughout the project.
In this project, I had the opportunity to explore a wide array of architectural drawing techniques, which served as a challenging yet enriching experience for me as a designer. This endeavor also provided me with the chance to discover fascinating and distinctive methods for project representation. I delved into the analysis of various architectural precedents to draw inspiration. Throughout this process, I made sure to infuse each drawing with my own unique touch, striving for a coherent and well-rounded project.
Top: Roof plan - Illustrating the buildings relationship to site. Left: Compound section / plan - Plan projected on ground plane showing ground floor.
Top: Compound section - Cutting through Gordon Wilson Flats and Library Hub Space of designed building.
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Te Papa Redesign
My redesign of Te Papa, Titled 'Radiate,' was driven by a dynamic site analysis that identified one primary and four secondary axes, which informed the building's layout in both plan and section. Drawing inspiration from quotes inscribed on the existing structure, three speculative drawings were developed to shape the narrative of the new museum. Utilizing steel as its primary structural element, the building addresses contemporary issues. Elevated on stilts, it safeguards its artifacts from rising sea levels. While some locations discourage skateboarding, this design not only accommodates it but incorporates elements that can be used for skateboarding. Furthermore, what was once considered disruptive or antisocial behavior, graffiti, is now celebrated through a dedicated graffiti wall, enabling the citizens of Pōneke to share their art forms. This redesign features multiple pavilions, each designed to accommodate distinct programs or functions. The scale of each pavilion underscores its significance, and unique architectural elements give them individual character. Right: Speculative Drawing - One of three drawings developed to inspire the design of 'Radiate'.
The building's design is inherently speculative, aiming to establish an iconic architectural presence along Wellington's waterfront. Taking inspiration from Wellington's central location in Aotearoa, all axes in the plan converge at a central node, creating the museum's grand entrance. In addition to traditional museum features like theaters, venues, and auditoriums, this design incorporates some unconventional elements, including a ferry terminal to the north, a bungee jumping tower, and Sunday market spaces. These additions were thoughtfully integrated to resonate with Wellington's unique geography, character, and culture. To enhance inclusivity and comfort in the design, human-centric features, including double-height spaces, pathways, and ramps, were also integrated.
Bellow: Roof Plan - Showing the different pavilions of the museum in context. Right Top: Render from harbour - showing the view of the museum as you arrive via ferry, Right bellow: Render from Cable St showing buildings converge towards entrance.
Top: Long Section - Cutting through the Primary Axis showing Staff offices, Main Entrance, &, Venue Spaces (Left to Right).
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Embracing the Eternal Return This project looked at designing a community centre in Te Aro Park. It aimed to revive the rich history of Te Aro Pā and reintegrate traditional customs and values, with the Māori concept of time taking a central role in the project. Leveraging historical data, speculative tectonic drawings, and dynamic site analysis, the structure was conceived with a tectonic approach, utilizing scaffold building materials and techniques to craft a distinct design. The structural nature permits intricate systems to interconnect, resulting in a complex tectonic design that seamlessly integrates various elements. The thematic approach permeates every aspect of the design, from the façade that draws inspiration from traditional rangaranga techniques to the exterior pavers that interlace, and even the core, which exhibits an intriguing pattern. The project’s narrative is consistently woven throughout. The building is designed to be porous, allowing external elements of Tāwhirimātea to be experienced, heard, and seen, fostering transparency between the occupants and observers of the structure. Also incorporated are mini flexible Wharenuis that harmonize with the building’s structural rhythm, enabling versatile theater setups and events within the facility. As we scale up, the building undergoes changes, but the narrative remains constant. Proprietary scaffold couplings were devised to meet traditional whare building conditions, while still providing the capacity to assemble and disassemble the building for potential relocation. Right: Speculative Drawing - Collage of three speculative drawings illustrating my interpretation of the Māori concept of Time.
Level 3 12300
Level 2 8200
Top: 3D diagram of Structure - Showing tectonic and repetitive structure with proprietary fixings. Bellow: Long Section - Cutting through flexible Whare Spaces. Right: Render - Looking at tectonic community centre from Manners St.
Top: Physical Model - Constructed of 35m worth of 4mm and 6mm dowel, and, 1m² of 3mm MDF. Part of Two University Exhibitions.
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Fragmented Memories
To me, a Radical Home symbolizes the enduring sanctity of our childhood residences (Hooper, 2019). Having had the privilege of dwelling in various homes across the globe and within Aotearoa, each has been my 'home' for a time, etched with cherished memories. However, as these memories blur with overlapping physical attributes and the emotions tied to them, they collectively shape who I am. This study aims to unite these homes into the essence of a Radical Home. The process of arriving at a new place and deeming it 'home' is a familiar one. Utilizing digital techniques, the investigation starts with key aspects of front elevations, intertwining them to extract memory fragments. A series of abstract drawings intensify, melding the architectural essence of a home with memory, culminating in a final drawing that embodies my Radical Home concept. Then the ultimate drawing is analyzed, yielding seven key verbs to inspire seventeen physical models. My final model developed embodies a Radical Home: a landscape of fragmented memories that evoke the essence of 'home.' These imprints, on a 640gsm watercolor paper, are the foundation of the model. Sculpted paper sheets extend above and below, merging and overlapping to craft a dynamic, sculpted home. This Radical Home is the culmination of my exploration into how fragmented memories create an unconventional notion of 'home.' Right: Speculative Drawing - Final Illustration representing my idea of a Fragmented Memory Radical Home
Top: Physical Model - Constructed of 640gsm Watercolor Paper representing my Radical Home - Fragmented Memories. Part of Two University Exhibitions.
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Contact
Thank you for taking the time to review my portfolio. If you would like to access my curriculum vitae, explore my work experience, learn about additional projects, view my drawings, or have any inquiries, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Thank you. Joshua Hetherington joshuahetherington@outlook.com
TĒNĀ KOUTOU THANK YOU