Arts Thread

Whenua Whakaora questions the quality of space in the hospital and its ability to care and nurture, rethinking the importance of functional and enchanting spatial qualities that support well-being. To imagine what might be possible if the narrative layer of Te Wao Nui holistically shapes the architecture, Whenua Whakaora proposes a speculative alternative to the new Wellington’s Children Hospital design. Reframing the narrative layer as a transformative and fundamental concept of hospital-as-landscape and bringing the context of Ngā Puna Waiora and Te Wao Nui to life, creating a living, healing environment through the design.  This speculative alternative is an experiment that seeks to challenge the way we engage with designing hospitals and pushing the boundaries of what carefully designed healing architecture can do for well-being, critically reimagining the potential of hospitals through permeability and their urban potential. Natural light, plants and fresh air penetrate the centre of Whenua Whakaora, while playfulness and homelike comfort are interwoven throughout, softening spaces to soothe and support.