AN ARCHITECTURE OF TRANQUILLITY

 It’s great to see the new hot pools, He Puna Taimoana, in New Brighton being so well supported. They are a good way to relax by the seaside and an excellent new asset for the city. 

I like the architecture of this building. It is relaxed and informal, in keeping with the use. The clever terracing down towards the road provides protection from the easterly wind but allows only the upper pools to have a view of the ocean, and there is still the noise from the road to distract. 

To really immerse yourself into a haven of natural tranquillity, away from the everyday world, there is no better place than the Glacier Hot Pools in Franz Josef. Further to travel, but worth it. 

When designing these pools and associated buildings, we were careful to ensure as little of the natural rainforest was disturbed as possible. All of the major trees and even the fallen logs were plotted by GPS, and the pool shapes and positions crafted around them. The pools are seamlessly nestled amongst the lush rainforest, at one with the environment. 

The building itself appears as a rock face in the bush, with koru shaped showers inside and out that appear to be small caves carved out of the rock. The charcoal grey tones make the building disappear into the shadows of the trees. 

A ‘glacial’ wall glows at night to enhance the experience of soaking in the bush at the foot of the nearby glacier. 

This is truly an environment to relax, refresh and rejuvenate in total peace, with an architecture of tranquillity that complements and enhances the experience.