The demise of the quarter-acre dream became a prevalent narrative in New Zealand during the late 1980s and 90s, as evident from the diminishing backyard spaces and increasing over-densification continuing to this day. It is crucial to emphasize that a man-centered way of living not only resulted in the increasingly lose of connection with our whenua but also disrupted the habitats of local bird and plant species, ultimately leading to their decline
As a nation renowned for its diverse natural habitats, various organizations such as the Department of Conservation and Project Island Bird Song, in collaboration with local iwi, actively engage in the ecological restoration of pest-free islands. Notably, within the eastern Bay of Islands where native subtropical habitats, lush and vegetation are celebrated, and alive with bird songs. However, as a very long and intensive process itself, the restoration requires the active spread of awareness for those that enter the island for leisure, as well as students that attend volunteering sessions.
Hence, in partnership with Project Island Bird Song, the Whare Manu Bird Auditorium is introduced as a focal point and interactive educational space at the entrance of Urupukapuka Island. Its purpose is to engage visitors in a dialogue with the island’s hosts- avian inhabitants, bringing their songs to life.
Powhiri is known as a Maori tradition of welcoming visitors onto the marae. The process consists of an exchange of songs and greetings between the host and the guests as a formal welcome procedure. The design is inspired by the protocol of this traditional Maori process. By imagining birds as the host of the island, the visitors are invited to utilise the Maori instrument poi awhiowhio-traditionally used as a bird lure-to frame a self-introduction as they enter the land.
The pavilion mimics the form of a speaker that can be entered by both ends by stairs or a ramp, while also allowing birds to freely enter. The center of the pavilion acts as an interactive performance space and education space, where the poi awhiowhio is stored and played by the visitors, attracting birds that are nesting in nearby trees and along the side walls to fly through the chamber, thereby completing the greeting process. The two existing Manukau trees on the ends in addition to the grid walls on the sides provide nesting spaces for birds, while at the same time blinding the vision of the visitors standing in the center, to emphasize the sensory experience of hearing the bird’s songs gradually approaching the central stage. To fulfill teaching facilities, stools can be pulled out in combination with a display board to transform the space into a teaching space for school visits.
In conclusion, the Whare Manu Bird Auditorium on Urupukapuka Island exemplifies a blend of Maori traditions, ecological restoration, and educational engagement. By immersing visitors in the songs and habitats of birds, it strives to foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of the natural world.
