Pourewa Ohe

Beatrice Totanes.
Tutor: Farah Saad.

Cautiously thinking about the environmental value the block of Rimu timber withholds and what it represents, the sentiment of remembering our ancestors through the Rimu profoundly influenced this project. Looking into Mike’s ancestral roots and personal value for the site, connections between the watchtower design and traditional Polynesian structures have been made. The watchtower is a cone-shaped bamboo structure, elevated from the ground to minimise the risk of water entering the seating area if a flood ever occurs in Mike’s lot caused by the tides of the beach. People entering the ground floor through the folding doors are welcomed with a seating area that sinks into the concrete ground topped with Rimu timber floor planks. The seating place sinks in to allow a seating experience without bringing any furniture into the small space. A ladder from the ground floor provides access to the first floor. The first floor is a small space with parts of the walls that people occupying the space can push out to allow air to enter the structure and enable the people to see the view of Bethalls beach.