SHAC… Climate activism has primarily manifested as “Blockadia.” Why? Blocking and shutting down bad projects is easier to organize around than efficiency or carbon pricing. And maybe that’s fine. Maybe it isn’t the role of activists to imagine and bring about a new world. Maybe that’s for policymakers, designers, engineers, artists, and entrepreneurs.
Source: Architecture and Climate – what critics misunderstand about climate activism
The starting point for this design references the traditional timber framed barns once common in Canterbury. Occasionally you come across a barn nearing the end of its life, with bleached and weathered timbers. The roof framing is letting go, and a graceful curve develops in the ridge line as the building becomes more beautifully integrated into the landscape.
This building will be an ambassador for natural building. For many it will be their first encounter with these technologies. As such it should be relatable, distinctive, dignifying; a building that people can identify with. At the same time expressive of the materials used.
In this design the main materials are sourced from the nearby landscape. Wheat straw from the surrounding farmland; lime from Amuri for plaster; macrocarpa from farm shelterbelts for frame and cladding; bricks for the floor salvaged from the Canterbury earthquakes; and river stones for the sheltering wall along the south.
Shingle Point
Inspired by the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps and the timber boardwalks on our national walking trails. Shingle point looks to a regenerative future and harks back to simple timber settlers cottages. With native timber flooring, framing, sarking and cladding the intended structure would be formed from our natural resources. Reclaimed Totara heartwood is proposed for its inherent durability. This timber was highly prized by both the Maoris and the early European settlers. It needs no chemical treatment and can be oiled to retain colour or left to silver naturally. A faceted Greywacke stone plinth is also proposed to anchor the structure, form the seating and elevate the timber from ground moisture. These materials and the form are intended to blend into Methven’s built alpine vernacular and relate to the areas dramatic natural landscape.
Snöhuttë is a bus shelter located on the out skirt of Methven, 47 Racecourse road, besides Ski Time resort. Its primary function is to serve as a shelter for tourist and locals waiting to head out to the local mountains for winter activities via bus transport. The shelter comfortably accommodates 20 travellers and their gear, whilst keeping them warm courtesy of the fire place within the feature wall that also doubles as a chimney. The shelter can also function between winter seasons as a communal space by transforming the entrance wall to create an additional covered outdoor area. Materials used to create the shelter are natural stone for the base and feature wall, rammed earth southern wall, and pine timber to create the inhabitable spaces with north facing glass windows. The sloped roof prevents snow from collecting on the roof, the covered entrance way provides an intermediate transition that combats the strong north westerly winds, and rest of the shelter is completely sealed to combat wild weather conditions of Methven.
Hey! so our design is made out of steel beams for the structure and correlated iron for the back cladding, the interior is lined with untreated timber, the interior bracing elements are also timber and are held together by stainless bracing (pictured in poster). Our design was inspired by the norwest arch, geodesic domes and also the dna helix.
ONTRACK is about bringing back Methven’s heritage. We will revive the railway by creating a shelter out of rail tracks.
The rails will form the structural frame of the shelter, and recycle materials from Christchurch such as: stone, timber and iron roofing will be used to create the walls, floor and the cladding.
The bus shelter is about 30m2, with 2 entries (one from resort, other one from the road), ski storage, covered seated areas and have great visibility on the road.
It is protected by timber panels that are hooked onto the structure and the shelter is positioned to receive the most sun in the morning but also to protect from the south and western winds.
The Tyre Garden on Racecourse Avenue is a multipurpose shelter for passengers and guests of the resort anytime of the year, as well as reflecting the farming culture found in Methven through the reuse of farming materials in the surrounding garden.
The structure of the shelter is constructed from recycled materials, the walls made of used tyres rammed with earth to help minimise the effect of seismic action commonly encountered within the Canterbury region. Wooden pallets form the structure of the roof and is thatched with bales of straw. Angled walls provide views to Mount Hutt and offer protection to passengers from the prevailing winds (as well as providing a view of the incoming bus), but open to allow for vegetation blossom through the exposed tyres.
This is our Entry – Whare Whenua
Whare Whenua is bus shelter created from natural materials. Rammed earth walls shelter the users from oncoming words and help support the angled steel roof that is inspired from the southern alps seen fro the site at 47 Racecourse Avenue. Untreated Timber louvres, which are used as an architectural element also helps with shelter from the winds and while showcasing the idea of a rising mountain. During winter seasons skiers and snowboarders can hang the gar on the wall and during the non winter periods the bus shelter can also be used an area to come and hang for the community.
Curv ski-bus shelter is designed for the people and community of Methven. The shelter is designed from locally sourced materials. Curved walls made from adobe bricks, an elegant roof constructed from timber and recycled tires. The chosen materials are all natural and recycled other than that used for structural purposes, these materials also relate to the climate. Adobe bricks offer great thermal properties, the recycled tires are weatherproof also concrete, timber and steel reinforcing is used to keep its structure intact. Construction is fairly easy and best of all these materials are cost efficient. Curv is designed to bring in the sunlight and works against prevailing chilly winds of Methven and in the case of the rare storm winds the shelter provides seating on the south side of the dwelling and an amphitheatre-like seating inside for the tourist crowds in winter season, the space also serves a dual purpose for gatherings and performances for the community when its off season.
Seven Summits arises through the grounds of Methven to replicate the beautiful aesthetic of the mountain summits in the horizon. Not only a bus shelter, but Seven Summits provides a space for communities to gather with one another through an engaging environment. A community garden brings together people of multiples ages and interests, thus bonding the small town of Methven and creating a future of innovation and entrepreneurship. The main goal of Seven Summits was to create a space that would be able to interact with environment and also to link that connection with the people of Methven. Each peak tells a different story, therefore the heights were altered so that this could be signified. The stone walls represents structure and safety, helping block the cold winds of the south and furthermore the strong gusts of the north.
