Māngere Arts Centre: merging arts, culture and community

Auckland, New Zealand

Client: Auckland Council

Sector: Civic, Community and Justice

Auckland Council had the desire to create a versatile community space that would serve as a hub for both performing and visual arts.

At a glance

Auckland Council had the desire to create a versatile community space that would serve as a hub for both performing and visual arts. With a strong emphasis on engaging with the youth population in the area, the goal was to cultivate a creative haven that fosters artistic expression while nurturing the talents of the local community.

The challenge

Previously, Māngere lacked a place for the local community to engage with visual and performing arts. The goal was to create a central hub where the diverse community of Māngere could gather, reflecting Aotearoa's unique national identity, encompassing Māori, Pacific and European cultures and our place in the Pacific.

Our response

The design was driven by a vision to embody the two core pillars of the arts center: visual arts and performing arts, fostering a dynamic interaction between the two within an inviting open courtyard. To establish a seamless connection between these elements, shared facilities and functions are introduced to link the main components of the complex: the galleries and the performance space.

The performance space itself is envisioned as a versatile, adaptable ‘black box’ with a level floor, offering the possibility of multiple configurations. One side of the theatre can be opened to the foyer, which can extend into an external courtyard. This design allows for a more relaxed and informal performance atmosphere, enabling spectators to freely enter and exit the venue.

The foyer can serve as a stage with the audience situated in the courtyard, expanding the range of performance possibilities. This fluidity of space acknowledges and embraces the connection between indoor and outdoor environments, a characteristic often found in traditional indigenous Pacific Island structures.

The architectural design references Māngere Maunga, its presence and significance featured in the performance space foyer, offering a visual connection to its volcanic soils. Uenuku, the Māori god of creativity, embodied in the form of a rainbow, is referenced in the vibrant hues of the façade, infusing the structure with a vivid tribute to artistic inspiration.

The impact

The outcome is a versatile community space that functions as a vibrant hub for both performing and visual arts. Serving as a creative haven, it cultivates an environment that encourages artistic expression and nurtures the talents of the local community. Within its walls, New Zealand’s distinctive identity within the South Pacific flourishes, breathing life into a range of diverse cultures.