Oriental Bay Kiosk

Adedu Wellington Oriental Bay Pavilion
Architecture Competition

2018

collaborated with Jason Tan, Tyler Harlen and Callum Leslie

This project re-imagines the redundant Band Rotunda harbour site, towards a collective commons for the local ‘bay community’ and wider public. Intertwining the social and physical experiences of productive making, observing and collecting – to embody and activate the reinvented Kiosk building. Referencing architectural elements of the past site and surrounding, to engage and preserve the local identity of place. The Oriental Bay Kiosk is a collection of creative spaces set in three parts; the first is dedicated studio and community spaces for the public, second is an exhibition and performance space to present art to the wider community and finally a kiosk booth serving beverages and operating as vendor for a collection of local artistry. Together, these engage the urban waterfront landscape reflecting the building’s physical connection.

The band rotunda has had various reinterpretations on the harbour edge site, from early colonial and art deco to late 20th century additions. Initially, a colonial timber rotunda (1919) was constructed on the reclaimed water edge for musical performances. This was replaced with an art moderne pavilion (1938), for a dual-purpose band rotunda with a changing room. This was later converted to local community and gallery spaces. A second floor was added in the 1980s as public space, later converted into a restaurant. This additional level has affected the structural integrity of the original building. The proposal intends to remove the existing rotunda down to the original heritage level, retaining the architectural form and identity. The proposal intends to remove the existing rotunda down to the original heritage level, retaining the architectural form and identity. An alternative second level is added through the design process of reinventing and sourcing memories - historical elements of the site and wider Oriental Bay.

Form, Tectonics + Materiality
The previous and current band rotunda provides a historic reservoir of architectural form, tectonics and materiality expression. The unique qualities of the past are distilled and projected as spatial continuity within the exhibition and kiosk spaces. The contemporary insertion continues the semi-circle pavilion outline - with a light weight roof supported by CLT arch timber columns, with an array of openings towards the water edge promenade and direct views onto the waterfront peripherals. The floor consisted of an exhibition and performance space, a glass garden void vertically separates the space and allows soft lighting within the large open area. An external façade wraps the perimeter CLT panels with a scalloped brass metal, this will oxidise and form a unique patina from proximity with the sea.

Programme
Make + Production
The restored heritage level will be converted for artists to generate and create in an open studio space. These will be sided with the Oriental bay community rooms and a visiting artist studio. Allowing for the production of physical and social connections in quieter learning and making spaces.

Observation
The exhibition gallery allows for observation of installations, performances, visual art, symposiums and musicians. It provides a space for both creators, viewers and collectors to interact within a common public realm. The space allows the production of work to be curated and exhibited towards the public and local Oriental community.

Collection
The Kiosk booth operates as a small coffee and tea bar, but also as a platform for exploring the connection of multidisciplinary artists, musicians and students. It allows artists to promote and sell their work in an interaction beyond observation and exhibition. Edge seating also surrounds the outer booth, activating the Oriental parade promenade of the building. The idea of a kiosk relates to the previous ‘Oriental Tea Kiosk’ that existed in the early 20th century, regenerating a past identity and hertiage of the Oriental harbour.