Floor plan of the decking at Arataki Visitors Centre
Section AA - vertically cut through the decking
Section BB - diagonally cut through the decking
Elevation
Strengthening the connection between humans and the natural environment and fully immersing ones self into the forest to play, relax and learn amongst the trees is what this design aims to do. Pūrākau does this through telling a story to the visitor as they travel through the space, they are guided by the smooth organic shape of the deck and as they enter each section of the deck and encounter each intervention another part of the story is told. Not only is there a story being told, they are able to create their own tale.
Pūrākau is about the journey through Arataki and into the Waitakere ranges, as you travel through the space you are able to feel more with one with the environment and in some aspects you are fully immersed. While travelling through the outside space you are being told a story of the origin of the forest, its connection to Ranginui, Papatūānuku and the ancestors of Te Kawerau ā maki. The curved organic shape of the deck guides you around the outdoor space and leads you to playful and educational interventions such as pavilions, nets, elevated playhouses and bridges.
As the gateway of the Waitakere ranges it was important that Arataki became a very welcoming and inviting place for all to use; tangata whenua, tourists and locals. As Arataki is a place of learning we thought it would be crucial to enhance the educational features outside while weaving in play and relaxation as well. When we first visited Arataki we found that the outdoor space felt uninviting and neglected as people spent the majority of their time indoors. Our aim was to fix these issues by making the space more inviting and creating attractions that would not only bring people outside but would also draw people out from the city and towards the Waitakere ranges.
