Domain winter-gardens, a home of tranquility and peace away from the chaos of the city. A cultural fusion, weaving together diverse histories and backgrounds. My intervention facilitates the importance of reflection and represents the historical importance of the land and its significance to the Maori people, Hongi Hika’s violent Toki Whatinui battle, peacemaking in 1828 at Pukekawa, and Te Wherowhero’s burial. The reflective pool stretches across the grand courtyard, uniting the entrances of the three gardens at the centre; building relationship. Pōhutukawa, (which is the name of a star in matariki), serves as a reminder of those who have passed on, encouraging us to take the time to remember them and acknowledge their impact on our lives.) Seven of these trees will be planted either side of the reflective pool, of for each star, Matariki, Pōhutukawa, Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipuna-ā-Rangi, Ururangi, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi directly honouring our ancestors and each representing a specific matariki value. Separated by their children, Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, reflections of water/wai mirrors that of above, reawakening the connection through the metaphorical bridge. The flooring is laid down to form a weave like herringbone pattern, symbolising kaitiakitanga, resembling the bones of fish which once swam on the richness of the land, replicating the natural form of the veins of vegetation, nourishing families. Herringbone, binding the timber around Te Wherowhero burial grounds firmly. Weaving together New Zealand’s people; unity. Matariki has different names around the world, in English, it is called by its ancient Greek name, Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. In Hawaiian it is Makali’i, ‘eyes of royalty’, and in Japan it is Subaru, meaning ‘gathered together’. A place for all people to unite, reflect on oneself, their loved ones, their history and the history of the nation.The intervention will be on display from May 24th through to July 24th, celebrating Matariki which coincidentally also falls in the middle of ‘winter.’

The trees bring life into the concrete structural space, The beautiful pohutukawa trees have deep symbolism of life and break up the urban appearance. The trees create a soft look, bringing the eye upward. The trees, rooted into the ground delicately grow upward into the sky, shifting our attention from eye view into the abundance above.

My design is catered to what is already in the space, working with the historic. The eye floats from one side to the other forming a connection between both glasshouses. The trees, alike the courtyard are symmetrical from this view.