Unveiling A Breathtaking Green Roof First Conceived By Hundertwasser
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Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery. Photo: Richard Smart, NZ Representative, Hundertwasser Not-for-profit Foundation
During the World Green Infrastructure Congress 2023 in Berlin, we were awarded the Built Environment Green Roof Award for the Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery. The Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery includes Aotearoa’s New Zealand’s first and only Māori contemporary art gallery. The living (green) roof concept was originally designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser in 1993 and the technical detailed design led by me, Zoë Avery, alongside Renee Davies. We enjoyed additional design input from and oversight from the Hundertwasser Non-Profit Foundation and Springmann Architecture, alongside soil scientist Robyn Simcock, architect Grant Harris, HB Architecture and 4Sight Consulting (now SLR). The afforested living roof was completed in 2022 and has been designed to reflect Hundertwasser’s belief in the importance of a more human architecture integrating nature into the built environment.
Design Process with the Community
The design process involved interdisciplinary collaboration among architects, landscape designers, engineers, and environmental experts, with input from iwi and community stakeholders to ensure the project met its intended goals.
Hundertwasser’s original concept sketch for the project. Photo: https://www.hundertwasserartcentre.co.nz/about/hundertwasser-art-centre/
The story of the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery spans nearly three decades, owed to a dedicated group of community volunteers. The journey began in 1993 when Whangārei’s Mayor invited Hundertwasser to design an art centre. Despite shifting support from the district councils, community backing remained steadfast.
In 2014, a public referendum on the fate of the old Harbour Board building resulted in a majority vote for the construction of the Hundertwasser Art Centre. The council contributed towards earthquake-proofing, covering 10% of the $33 million total cost.
The hurdle of raising over $20 million in two years was surmounted by the volunteers’ tremendous efforts. This marked the first time in New Zealand that such an enormous sum was raised entirely by community volunteers.
The final design for the living roof afforestation was driven by the concept of giving this space back to nature where you would feel like a guest of nature on the roof, just as if you were walking through the forest. Our design goal was to create a forest using a variety of New Zealand native Northland specific plants, integrating endemic species with fruiting trees allowing one to wander through the forest and discover, pick, and eat fruit.
The forest plantings have been set randomly, wild with spontaneous vegetation beneath the trees where new plants can self-seed as happens in nature. This design was to acknowledge the known and practised Hundertwasser living roof design practices while respecting New Zealand’s endemic plants, animals and building and resource laws.
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Designing for Biodiversity
The living roof creates a rich habitat for plants, insects, and birds, fostering a thriving ecosystem that supports biodiversity. This landmark biodiverse living roof of ~980m2 (10,500 ft2) creates a stunning extension to the Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery for Whangārei. This accessible living roof showcases nature-based solutions, an asset to urban environments.
In keeping with Hundertwasser's goal of a more human architecture, Zoë and the team aimed to establish a forest using a mix of New Zealand native Northland specific plants and exotics. The forest plantings include a mix of northland specific endemic plants and the substrate used locally sourced pumice (light weight and porous volcanic rock), zeolite and organic matter (bark fines). The depth of substrate was between 600-700mm being 20% organic matter, 70% pumice, 10% zeolite.
The planting aims to create a woodland (forest) effect with a spontaneous, natural feel to the planting. Fruiting trees have been included to implement the ability of visitors within the forest being able to discover and pick fruit from the trees. The fruit trees are a mix of deciduous (to bring autumn colour and seasonal variety) and evergreen species that are particularly successful and iconic in Whangārei.
The living roof and planting plan was developed to maximise the amount of roof space dedicated to nature. This plant palette has a diverse mix of exotic fruiting trees and New Zealand natives that are adapted to the local ecological region. Planting includes species that are threatened and found on offshore islands - highlighting the special character and the unique location of the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangārei. Paths were designed as permeable and covered in natural materials with no visible edges (apart from fire egress).
Water Sensitive and Climate Adaptation Urban Design
The living roof effectively manages stormwater by absorbing and filtering rainwater, reducing runoff volume, and mitigating flood risks. This living roof has already withstood two cyclones and several major weather events since it was installed last year! Trees are anchored to a mesh layer under the substrate.
The project also contributes to urban heat island mitigation by incorporating vegetation that provides natural cooling through evapotranspiration, and the shading effects of the tree canopy.
Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery Drone Aerial Photograph. Photo: Richard Smart, NZ Representative, Hundertwasser Not-for-profit Foundation
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Environmental Sustainability
The living roof reduces energy consumption by acting as a natural thermal barrier, improving air quality through natural air purification, and providing natural stormwater management solutions. The incorporation of the living roof reduced the requirement for insulation. This was a particularly crucial factor considering the building houses several tāonga (sacred) art pieces which need to be kept at a constant ambient temperature.
Environmental Responsibility
During construction, the project management minimised the carbon footprint by using eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and implementing responsible transportation and disposal practices.
The construction firmly upholds the fundamental principle of ecological sustainability. It not only incorporates long-lasting materials sourced from New Zealand and Europe but also utilizes 40,000 reclaimed bricks and 1,600 cubic metres of recycled indigenous timber from the original structure. Furthering the eco-friendly approach, it included 5,000 repurposed pavers and 3,000 square meters of tiles crafted locally.
Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery Living Roof. Photo: Zoë Avery, The Urbanist + Design for Nature + University of Auckland
Biophilic Design Elements
The living roof incorporates natural elements such as native plants and natural materials, creating a harmonious blend of built and natural environments. The building, including the living roof, simulates natural features, organic forms of nature rather than the straight edges and right angles typically found in modern architecture. The design of the living roof included organic materials, curved paths and this all leads to the ground plane landscape with paving following organic shapes, including the koru or spiral shape. The koru, which is often used in Māori art, symbolises creation, and is inspired by the form of a fern frond as it unfurls. The circular design embodies the concept of continuous motion, while the inward spiral signifies a journey back to the source.
Education, Research, or Policy Development Contributions
The Hundertwasser Art Centre provides educational programs and tours highlighting the benefits of green roofs and serves as a model for sustainable urban development. The Hundertwasser Art Centre is aligned with nature and individual creativity – showcased alongside high-quality, contemporary Māori art. The Centre also serves as a resource for educational institutions. Driven by the commonalities between Hundertwasser’s vision and te Ao Māori – a respect and recognition of Māori customs and protocols – the Centre provides an interdisciplinary learning experience. This encompasses elements of art, identity, architecture, and ecology. Moreover, it aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum, the newly introduced Aotearoa Histories Curriculum, and the local curriculum. In doing so, the Centre reflects upon and educates about some of the most urgent global issues of our time.
Today, the living roofed landmark building stands as a testament to the resilience of a group of people who dared to keep a dream alive, leading to a magnificent landmark on the site of the former Harbour Board Building.
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Zoë Avery, is the Associate Director of Design (Urban Planning), at University of Auckland. She is also the co-founder of Design for Nature.
Join us at The World Green Infrastructure Congress 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand!
New Zealand won their bid to host the World Green Infrastructure Congress (WGIC) in Auckland 2024 lead by Zoë Avery, Associate Director of Design (Urban Planning), Te Pare School of Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland in collaboration with the registered charity Design for Nature (New Zealand’s national association established to promote nature-based solutions and green infrastructure).
The upcoming WGIC2024 in Auckland will span from 2-5 September, hosted by the University of Auckland. Organised in association with Design for Nature and the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN), the event will feature talks on urban nature-based solutions, green buildings, climate adaptation, green infrastructure, policies, and strategies. The event will provide presentations, workshops and networking opportunities, a gala dinner, worldwide green infrastructure and green building awards, and an excursion day showcasing some of Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland’s best green infrastructure projects.
Aimed at leaders from the industry, academia, and government, the WGIC2024 seeks to foster cross-disciplinary dialogues and shape a sustainable urban future. Initial sponsorships packages will be available from December. Please register your interest in attending and or sponsorship packages here.
