Ngā hau a Tāwhirirangi

Understanding the history of MOTAT's Aviation Hall (the largest wooden hangar in the Southern Hemisphere at the time of completion) and wanting to celebrate its distinctive existing forms, we invited Studio Pacific Architecture to collaborate on the design and delivery of this new exhibition experience. Highlighting MOTAT’s collection, exhibition content was organised into sections, and an initial colour palette was derived from the collection's objects. Graphic substrates and material selections reinforce existing aesthetics, imbue the space with energy, and restore mana. Considering matauranga māori, a warm colour palette evolved reflecting te taiao. A jet stream overhead and mirroring carpet underfoot, physical and digital interactives, museum cases and custom joinery – many parts integrate as a whole. The scope and breadth of components required malleable design solutions and a thoroughly coordinated approach to production and installation.