cheshire arhitects' rore kahu pavilion celebrates the union of old and new worlds

in commemoration of the bicentenary of the historic first meeting between maori chief ruatara and reverend samuel marsden on oihi beach, new zealand, local studio cheshire architects has completed the rore kahu pavilion. the complete project consists of two stages, one being the pavilion itself and the other involving the landscaping of planting various local plants linking a trail from the beach to the pavilion and parking area on top of the hillside. rore kahu’s design is based in the harmonized union of differing structures representing ‘neither chapel nor marae (maori meeting ground)’ but rather a new composite pavilion paying homage to both.

the pavilion marries traditional construction methods with high-tech fabrication processes
image © patrick reynolds (also first image)

the cheshire architects‘-designed pavilion consists of two principle structures physically disjointed but working together to create a semi-enclosed space. forming the thick outer walls, rammed earth was used to create the curved tapering envelope which opens to provide views over the historic beach. a concrete floor steps down onto the grass leading visitors to wander down the vegetated path to the sand below. hovering above the earthen structure, an angular composite roof of carbon fiber and foam supported on free standing circular steel columns provides shade and protection from the elements without ever touching the rammed earth walls. named after the now extinct native eagle, rore kahu looks as a form soaring into the sky, merging traditional constructions with contemporary fabrications.

located at the top fo a hill, the pavilion looks over the countryside site of the first maori encounter with the west
image © patrick reynolds

the angular carbon fiber canopy floats above the earthen walls
image © patrick reynolds

the roof form alludes to the extinct native eagle from which the pavilion was named
image © patrick reynolds

image © patrick reynolds

the two curving wallsframe the entrance to the pavilion
image © patrick reynolds

image © patrick reynolds

bible verses are offset from the wall in both maori and english
image © patrick reynolds

project info:

client: the marsden cross trust board
location: oihi, bay of islands, northland
floor area: 50 m2
project team: pip cheshire, nat cheshire, sean flanagan, euan revell
status: completed
primary construction material: rammed earth, steel, resin and carbon fibre composite

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cheshire arhitects' rore kahu pavilion celebrates the union of old and new worlds

architecture in new zealand (70)

cheshire architects (5)

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