Business North December / January 2021

16 | Northland - Trigg Construction - Hundertwasser Art Centre REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Excitement as opening draws closer T T Sue Russell The Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery will be full of the iconic colour-ways, tiles and forms that Hundertwasser used to great effect in his architecture. A rts Executive Kathleen Drumm returned home after a decade working overseas to take up the role of Whangarei Arts Museum’s CEO at a time of great excitement, as the city’s long-anticipated Hundertwass- er Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery becomes a reality. Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928 – 2000) was an Austrian-born artist and architect who held a deep connection to New Zealand. He moved permanently to New Zealand in 1976s and took up citizenship in 1983. Hundertwasser is regarded world-wide for his artistic endeavours. He sought always to combine art and architecture with his passion for the environment. Set to open in December 2021 The Hunder- twasser Art Centre will be the last authentic building he designed to be constructed in the world, something the community of Whanga- rei is extremely proud of. A building 27 years in the making, it was made possible by many funders who con- tributed to the project from central and local government to community funders, business and private donors. The complexity of the build can not be over- stated. It has a remarkably strong structure, capable of holding 200 tonnes of top-soil on its roof, which required piles to be dug to a depth of 37metres. It carries massive volumes of concrete and steel, to enable the flowing unique shape to meet today’s stringent seismic code and build- ing standards. It will be full of the iconic colour-ways, tiles and forms Hundertwasser used to great effect in his architecture. Over 40,000 recycled bricks and 3km of recycled timber taken from the old Harbour Board building which was previously on the site, pay homage to Hundertwasser’s belief about environmental sustainability. The Wairau Māori Art Centre, to be housed inside, will display exhibitions from renowned contemporary Māori artists. When the building is complete it will be striking to look at. Visitors will be able to wander over it, along pathways through plantings of unique specimens, including the world’s rarest plant, Pennantia Baylisiana, originating from the 3 Kings Island, north of Cape Reinga. The direct and ongoing economic benefits that will come from the Hundertwasser Art Centre will be significant for the region. It will cement the city as a destination for New Zealand, and overseas travellers (once border restrictions have been eased). “We believe this facility will provide visitors with an exceptional cultural and artistic expe- rience – one they will carry with them for the rest of their lives,” said Kathleen Drumm. And apart from these experiences yet to come, so far the project has been a key-driver of employment in the district. Estimates put the number involved full or part-time from demolition, to construction and project management at over 500, and once the structure itself is completed more work will come for landscapers on the build- ing’s exceptional roof-top. “The place of volunteers can not be un- derestimated either, with many hundreds of people freely giving their time and energy to see this wonderful project to fruition.” The Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery will open to visitors in De - cember 2021. T T Construction challenges - page 18 09 435 0188 www.robinsonasphalts.co.nz Proud to provide First Class Civil works to Trigg Construction and to be a key part of the exciting developments at the Whangarei Town Basin Northland’s FIRST CLASS Civil Contractors