Hamilton forum series to encourage 'Conversations on Placemaking'

The architecture and heritage of Hamilton will be the focus of a forum series called ‘The Tron – Conversations on Placemaking’ which begins next Friday [29 October].

The four-forum series is a joint initiative between New Zealand Historic Places Trust, New Zealand Institute of Architects and Waikato Museum, and will involve local and national designers and commentators.

Waikato Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala said the series is an opportunity to spark some healthy debate and discussions about how the cultural landscape, built heritage, architecture, landscape and public art can all contribute towards creating a ‘sense of place’ and a vibrant city environment.

Andrew Bydder, chair of the New Zealand Institute of Architects encourages anyone interested to attend, saying “this is an opportunity to hear from some of the leaders in the field and actively participate in discussions that may help to shape the future of our city.”

New Zealand’s lead heritage agency, NZ Historic Places Trust, is an enthusiastic participant in the forum series. NZ Historic Places Trust’s lower northern area manager Gail Henry said: “The nature of our work means that we are more often than not considering specific heritage buildings and their preservation. This is an outstanding opportunity to look at heritage alongside other architecture and the landscape, and how all of these elements can work together to create a great city.”

The first forum, to be held 6pm next Friday at Waikato Museum, will ask the question ‘How can our cultural landscape influence great places and spaces in Hamilton?’ and will range across the concept of cultural landscape and what that means in Hamilton. Speakers for the first forum will be Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (head of school, Elam School of Fine Arts), Hamish Keith (cultural odd job man) and Ngahuia Te Awekotuku (professor of research, School of Maori & Pacific Development, University of Waikato), while the moderator will be Doug Sutton (deputy vice-chancellor, University of Waikato)…

The details for the following three forums are as follows:

Forum two – Friday, 5 November, 6pm: What makes great architecture and cities? How do we achieve this in Hamilton?
This promises to be a stimulating conversation about the value of great designs, the process of educating the public, and the role of the regulatory environment.
Speakers: Ian Athfield (architect), Gordon Chesterman (chairman of the Waikato Institute of Technology Council).
Moderator: Andrew Bydder (architect).

Forum three – Friday, 12 November, 6pm: How should landscape architecture and public art contribute to great landscapes?
This conversation considers the impact of the natural environment on the look and feel of a city.
Speakers: Renee Davies (head of department landscape architecture, Unitec), Colleen Ryan-Priest (landscape architect and sculptor), Trish Clark (chair of Auckland City Council’s advisory panel of Public Art).
Moderator: Kate Darrow (art consultant).

Forum four – Friday, 19 November, 6pm: Sparking our urban vitality: Where to from here for Hamilton?
This discussion will invite everyone to look forward, having heard through the course of the programme how placemaking has taken place in the past and elsewhere. After a brief recap, panel members will each speak for 10-15 minutes about their vision for a vibrant future in which the city of Hamilton is a great place to live, work and play. The discussion will then widen to include everyone present who wishes to add to the city’s kete aronui (basket of beneficial knowledge).
Speakers: Mike Pohio (CEO Tainui Group Holdings Limited), Tommy Honey (urbanist, director The Film School), Julie Hardaker (Hamilton mayor).
Moderator: Ann McEwan (heritage consultant).

Tickets to the forums cost $15 per forum or $50 for all four, and are available for purchase from Waikato Museum prior to the event.

Also being held as part of ‘The Tron – Conservations on Placemaking’ is the workshop ‘Historic Preservation is Economic Development’ on 15 November at The Grandstand. Facilitated by internationally renowned economic development consultant Donovan Rypkema, the workshop is targeted at planners, heritage managers, council managers and strategic planners, politicians, developers and community heritage advocates, and costs $65 to attend.

For more information about the forum series and the workshop, visit www.waikatomuseum.co.nz.