A perfectly successful marriage between a modern and sustainable design and the ancient and fascinating Maori tradition, the Polynesian population that lives mainly on the North Island of New Zealand. This is how the architects of the Collingridge and Smith studio have created Te Mirumiru, an overwhelming curvilinear building that seems to "undulate" above and below the surface of the earth.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
A perfectly successful marriage between a modern and sustainable design and the ancient and fascinating Maori tradition, the Polynesian population that mainly inhabits theNorth Island of New Zealand. This is how the architects of the Collingridge and Smith studio have created Te Mirumiru, an overwhelming curvilinear building that seems to “undulate” above and below the surface of the earth.
Covered by a green roof, the structure has an entrance that emerges directly from the side of a hill. The grass on the roof extends all the way to the car park and also insulates the indoor rooms all year round. Rainwater is filtered, through a sewer system, to be then reused to water the turf.
The vaulted ceiling, on the other hand, favors the natural air circulation throughout the interior, keeping the rooms cool in the summer and warm in the winter, while the concrete floor absorbs the sun's rays and provides radiant heat in the winter, aided by the cantilevered roof blocks that let in direct sunlight in the summer . A sort of glass envelope covers the entire roof, creating passive cooling and natural ventilation. In short, everything has been designed for the greatest possible energy savings.
But in Te Mirumiru there is also a lot of Maori culture: with the construction of a partially underground structure, the inhabitants and visitors will be able to feel closer to the spirit of Mother Earth, respecting the tradition of "The Country House“, Which means“ house of the earth ”. The shape of the building is also a clear reminder of Maori beliefs, with its curved shape emulating the womb. Te Mirumiru is designed to respect the Earth in a ideally mutual hug.
Roberta Ragni
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