pioneering a 'new norm'
Trailblazing Māori architects, such as the late John Scott and Rewi Thompson, would be impressed - the work being done by their followers has taken on a new significance in recent years, as architects strive to create stronger, more meaningful connections between the built environment, tangata (people) and whenua (land).
It’s enough of a change to lead Māori architect Nicholas Dalton, principal of Tāmaki Makaurau Office (TOA) Architecture, to describe it as a “powerful point in history”.
“I think the tide has completely turned,” he says. “People who have not been given a voice over time, are now being given a voice, and we need to celebrate it. I’m grateful for the people who are driving this, and it’s not just us.”
Dr Deirdre Brown (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu), head of school at the University of Auckland School of Architecture, says the change has been building for some time, and is reflected in policy guidelines for much of our urban infrastructure – with councils, hospital boards and various Ministries, notably Education, Health and Justice, taking a lead.
Link to article: Māori and Pasifika architects pioneering a 'new norm' | Stuff.co.nz
