INTEGRATED TERRITORIES - REDISCOVERING WATTS PENINSULA THROUGH

INTEGRATED MEDIUM DENSITY HOUSING

GEORGIA SANSON

School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington Avery Team Architects, Auckland, NZ

SUMMARY This paper presents a portion of a 5th year Masters of Architecture thesis involving a residential urban design scheme within Watts Peninsula, using concrete as the predominant structural and aesthetic material. Without impacting severely on the open space environment, the design ambitions deal with two coexisting enquiries: 1) How to engage architecture with the heritage values/ identity of a site 2) How to integrate architecture between built and natural landscapes INTRODUCTION Wellington city has a steadily growing population which increased by over 10,000 between 2006 and 2011 to 200,100 people (Profile of Wellington 2014). This stable growth is forecast to continue over the next decade, leading to the need for increased space for urban development. Situated on the northern end of Miramar Peninsula, Wellington, Watts Peninsula has been selected in this research inquiry to accommodate a portion of this predicted growth. With New Zealand currently experiencing greater economic pressures and urban sprawl, the site becomes a unique housing opportunity with scenic views overlooking Wellington harbour and in close proximity to a range of recreational activities. As a nationally unique cultural heritage site, the unique layers of military history, recreational links, and natural values that comprise the area make this landscape one of significance. The specific site considered in this design is the former Women’s Reformatory Prison on Point Halswell. Having largely been in New Zealand Defence Force hands for over 125 years, the controversial debate of changing the land tenure of the currently abandoned site, creates significant opportunity to investigate how it might be developed for residential purposes. The challenge is to do this without impacting severely on the recreational open space and natural amenity the site currently offers. To allow innovative housing design that gives back what it takes; integration with history and nature is the key instigator and driving force of the vision.

Figure 1. Watts Peninsula site boundary DESIGN INFLUENCES Penitential History Between 1913 and 1942 the Women’s reformatory utilised some of the barracks buildings from the 1889 Point Halswell Battery (now Massey Memorial) (Naus 2011). During World War II the Halswell reformatory buildings were required by the Navy as accommodation for its Shelly Bay base. In 1944 its last prisoners left for Arohata Prison and in returning to the Prisoners Department in 1947, provided staff accommodation and facilities for farming and gardening (Blaschke & Rutherford 2012). The buildings have long been demolished from the 1980s and currently no evidence of the prison is discernable except for a concrete staircase. In very recent years the site itself has temporarily been used for film set productions, such as Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings (1999) (Blaschke & Rutherford 2012). Site Context Along with the influence of the sites penitential history, the current state of military infrastructure within Watts Peninsula has a noteworthy presence, standing as evidence of New Zealand’s military history. Blending into their surroundings with an indestructible, monumental status, the existing bunkers and gun emplacements entrenched throughout the land exhibit a unique ageing, war-like aesthetic.

These are only two areas that are evidence of the complex, intertwining histories that define Watts Peninsula. As a consequence, the residential design intervention adopts an integrated approach to this identity. Here the natural landscape itself, along with its embodied and surrounding heritage features are treated as an incentive for design and the comprehensive study between the manmade environment and the natural.

Figure 2. Artistic representation of WWII gun emplacements found within Watts Peninsula Precedents Additionally, the architecture of BAK Architects and Carlo Scarpa are two among many precedents which have had a profound influence on the design approach and aesthetics of the architecture for this medium density housing development. Scarpa’s use of textured concrete produces a captivating, ageing, war-like aesthetic. Similarly BAK Architects have been selected due to the way such innovative, yet austere architecture is made to blend into the surrounding context using exposed concrete and wood. Both precedents become inspiration for the design of the dwellings in an attempt to integrate with the existing environmental setting and historic context.

Figure 3. Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978) Source: Khalil, Nadine. ‘Francesco Dal Co on Carlo Scarpa : A Master behind the Times.’ Archiweb. Web. 20/09/2014. <http://www.archileb.com/article.php?id=241>

Figure 4. Bak Architects. BB House in Buenos Aires Source: ‘BB House in Beunos Aires by Bak Architects.’ My Fancy House. Web. 20/09/2014. <http://myfancyhouse.com/2013/01/15/bb-house-in-beunos-aires-by-bak-architects/bb-house-in-buenos-aires-by-bak-architects-13/> DESIGN SCHEME The chosen architectural exploration deals with repurposing and reinterpreting the former site plan of the prison into a unique medium-density housing development using concrete as the principle material and structural system. Along with the architectural influence of neighbouring military structures, sharing a likeness of simple, war-like formations, this strategy allowed the intervention to respond and engage fully with the history of the site as well as provide a unique housing experience.

Figure 5. Relationship between new and old

The relationship between public recreational space, private open space and communal areas were equally important concerns, with medium density housing being selected because it offers social, sustainable living and spatial benefits. The development comprises 23 units in a remote natural setting, with high appeal for people seeking an escape from city life, and have the potential to work from home. Most importantly, the design becomes a unique coastal housing development, planned explicitly to harmonize with the natural environment and aesthetically engage with the surrounding military structures of the region. Precast Concrete The use of concrete has been explored in the design not only to ensure durability and excellent environmental performance, but how it can visually integrate with its site context. A limited material palette of precast-board formed concrete is used to capture the essence of the nearby-ageing military structures, in conjunction with green roofing to integrate with the natural environment. This offers a sustainable approach, where panels will be pre-casted on site and left untouched thus reducing construction costs.

Figure 6. Elevations of proposed concept The benefits of using precast concrete is not only for visual aesthetics. Environmental benefits such as strength, insulation due to its excellent thermal mass, and fire resistance all contribute to the intactness of the overall design. An additional advantage of using precast concrete for this particular housing typology is its excellent acoustic separation between dwellings. Thus providing a quieter and more peaceful living environment. A tray deck slab approach was selected for the roofing due to its spanning capabilities, with cast-in-situ concrete bearing the weight of the green roof system. Challenging how a portion of housing could be integrated within a landscape in a way that minimized visual impact, it becomes paramount that any development on this prestigious site requires a strong vision and strategy. This design in particular explored the possibilities of concrete and green roofing to achieve such an integration.

CONCLUSION Medium density housing is becoming a typology that is increasingly attractive to a new generation of homeowners who recognize the benefits of living more closely due to urban sprawl. This design research endeavoured to accommodate a portion of Wellington’s economic growth by integrating a residential housing community sensitively within Watts Peninsula, a unique, nationally significant and currently abandoned military site north of Miramar. The integration between the built and natural landscape was conducted through an extensive investigation with the objective of engaging architectural design with the natural environment, military and heritage values, and place identity of the site itself.

Figure 7. Overall perspective of development with addition of green roofing

Figure 8. Interior perspective

Watts Peninsula’s layers of history have created an iconic multifaceted landscape. The main intention of this research was to engage architecture with established contexts in ways that actively continue the legacy of the past into the present. By responding to the tangible and visual dimensions of the site, a concomitant relationship between history, urban planning and architecture is realized, one that responds to the existing sense of place and continuity it conveys. The research becomes relevant to national concerns because it represents the core of many architectural and urban development issues. These issues include adaptive reuse of military structures, engagement with heritage values and modern urbanization using concrete in a natural setting. By considering landscape in the broad sense as well as the histories of how the site has been previously developed, housing can be better integrated into its prevailing context and simultaneously play an important role in engaging with imperatives and former histories. This will ultimately be one of New Zealand’s most inspiring sites for potential urban development. Superb architectural design within this wonderful environment will be critical to that vision. REFERENCES Blaschke & Rutherford Environmental Consultants, PAOS Limited, TRC Tourism Limited and affiliates. “Watts Peninsula – Feasibility Study Identifying Options for Further Development.” Report for Ministry of Culture and Heritage (March. 2012). Parliament NZ. Web. 3 April. 2014. <http://www.parliament.nz/resource/0000198779> Naus, Natasha. “Te Motu Kairangi / Military Reserve (Former), Northern Point Miramar Peninsula, Wellington.” Crown Land Disposal Heritage Assessment. New Zealand Historic Places Trust, November 2011. Print. “Profile of Wellington.” Wellington City Council. Web. 8 Aug. 2014. <http://welling- ton.govt.nz/about-wellington/profile-of-wellington>