10 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Hundertwasser Art Centre Hundertwasser’s vision now a reality Kim Newth The colourful tile-and-plaster clad building features an eight-metre-high gold cupola, the largest afforested roof in the southern hemisphere, and ‘tree tenants’ sprouting from windows. Photos: Tessa Paton Nearly three decades after Austrian-Kiwi artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser sketched out a design for a new art gallery in Whangārei, his one-of-a-kind vision has finally been realised. The new Hundertwasser Art Centre (HAC), which opened this month by the Hātea River in the marina area, is utterly unique and positions Whangārei as a world class arts destination. The colourful tile-and-plaster clad building - an architectural work of art in itself - features an eight-metre-high gold cupola, the largest afforested roof in the southern hemisphere, and ‘tree tenants’ sprouting from windows. Inside are two art galleries housing the only permanent display of original Hundertwasser works outside of Austria and the first public gallery in Aotearoa New Zealand dedicated exclusively to the finest in contemporary Māori art, curated entirely by Māori, (‘Wairau Māori Art Galley’). The building also includes a restaurant that spills out onto a terrace overlooking the marina, a gift shop, a theatre, and a learning centre. “Since the construction fences came down last December, interest in this building has been absolutely phenomenal,” says HAC Chief Executive Kathleen Drumm. “We’re excited about the level of awareness considering we’re a brand-new business and an arts centre in a part of the country that perhaps many people haven’t yet discovered. “At a time when people cannot travel internationally, it’s wonderful that New Zealanders can discover something new that is like nothing else in the southern hemisphere and reflects the incredible tenacity and determination of this community-led project.” Hundertwasser, who was one of Europe’s most celebrated modernist artists, was revered also for his architectural designs infused with creativity and a visionary ecological dimension. That spirit of spontaneity, organic irregularity and harmony with nature is honoured in this incredible new building, which grew out of Hundertwasser’s last architectural sketches. Floors inside the main atrium gently undulate to replicate the feeling of walking in the bush. The galleries are floored with recycled native timber. Teams of community volunteers chipped and cleaned up around 35,000 old red bricks for use in the build. There are more than a million pieces of tile in the building and the individual creative expression of local artisans can be glimpsed in the myriad details. New Zealand was Hundertwasser’s adopted home, and he spent 30 years living in the Bay of Islands before his death in 2000. He created the art gallery design after being approached by then Mayor Stan Semenoff, but getting it built proved far from straightforward. It took a referendum, a massive public fundraising Absolute Stainless12 Loygard Road. Port Nikau, Whangarei e: info@absolutestainless.co.nz p: 09 430 8608 www.absolutestainless.co.nz Benches / Range Hoods / Brackets / Flashings Hand Rails / Ladders / Bollards ABSOLUTE STAINLESS FOR QUALITY YOU’LL LOVE STAINLESS & ALUMINIUM SPECIALISTS A B S O L U T E Providing innovative engineering solutions to Northland and beyond for over 60 years. 09 438 3273 of ce@RSEng.co.nz www.RSEng.co.nz 2 Seaview Rd, Whangarei 0110 campaign and quite literally thousands of hours by volunteers to bring the project to fruition. “A lot of local businesspeople in the community worked hard over the years to help maintain interest and generate fund raising. There were many challenges to get something so idiosyncratic, and at times contentious, across the line.” The Hundertwasser Foundation in Vienna played a big role in guiding the project as it progressed. “One of Hundertwasser’s original architects Heinz M. Springmann worked with New Zealand architect Grant Harris [HB Architecture] to realize every single element of this building.” Kathleen, who grew up in Whangārei, joined the project two and a half years ago from an international career in the arts. “The Hundertwaser Art Centre is going to be fantastic for Whangārei. When you’re up close to the building, you really feel that sense of it being handmade – the quality and craft. It’s absolutely beautiful.” Whenever Hundertwasser created a building, he always made a 3D model of it and some of these will be going on display at the centre. These include his pitch for the Museum of New Zealand, which New Zealanders will be able to see as a copy of the original 3D model, specially recreated for display at the HAC. A newly created civic park adjoins the new art centre and next door is the refurbished Whangārei Art Museum, with further art galleries and studios nearby. It all creates real momentum for Whangārei’s financial, economic, and cultural health. Anyone who may doubt the transformative potential of art for cities should look no further than MONA – the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, Tasmania, which opened in 2011 and is today recognized as one of Australia’s most important contemporary art museums and has had a profound economic impact on the entire state of Tasmania and highlighted other local attractions. The Hundertwasser Art Centre will be a magnet for visitors and is destined to become one of the most photographed buildings in the country.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=