Once the first and only place of trade on the shoreline of Tamaki Makaurau, Fort Lane has now taken on the role as a service lane to the shops of Queen Street. People pass through the site not taking notice of the history of the space they occupy. My intervention is a collection of moveable shop stalls that reinstalls the history of the site to educate the occupants and help the revitalisation of the Māori and Pasifika economy. These stalls are temporary, and are overlooked by a permanent facade derived from Pacific and Māori culture and motifs.
This project incorporates multicultural values into its design and material exploration to highlight the history of Auckland's foreshore. The design employs Māori and Pacific material culture and design motifs - particularly weaving and the diamond-shaped malu from Samoa and the Maori hākari. Femininity is associated with both art forms and the malu represents strength and protection which I align to the protection and mana of downtown Tāmaki Makaurau. Wood is the selected medium as it is fibrous and malleable like flax or the pandanus leaves used in Pacific weaving. The outline is inspired by the Maori hākari stages which were used to hold food and were a symbol of trade. The high point demarcates where a marketplace will happen, and the lower points mark space for public socialising. Pasifika and Māori business are able to set up every second Saturday of each month in the marketplace. (This date is seen as the best day for trade on the lunar Matariki calendar). This activity benefits these businesses and also builds a sense of community. The market will open at 11, food, fresh produce, community activities, crafted goods and more will be sold and take place. When the market isn't open cafes and normal operations will take place leaving the facade to catch peoples' interest. Furniture for the marketplace; stalls, tables and chairs, were formed by extruding shapes from the facade. When the light goes through the furniture you are able to see woven like shadows. The furniture is able to be used when the marketplace is running and is stored within Fort Lanes shops when not used.
