Producer Statement :
Te Akia references the distinctive diagonal bargeboards on the Ngāi Tūāhuriri whare on the bank of the Horotueka. This crossover formation provides a welcoming gate for visitors to Te Pae, the new Christchurch Convention Centre, arriving on the Avon river side of the building. The form of the structure introduces hyperbolic surfaces that taper to the apex, meaning all 180 pieces of the cladding are unique. Weaving elements acknowledging the mana of Ngāi Tūāhuriri wahine and layering techniques add further complexity to the cladding design resulting in many digital modelling iterations and full scale prototypes to ensure cladding and superstructure beneath were fabricated to the same curvature and taper.