The Poiesis of Systems

This thesis looks at how to engage with the existing ‘poiesis’ of the Kapiti region north of Wellington, to reveal the large scale ecological systems operating in this coastal landscape, making them legible at the human scale. The research has also developed into an exploration of how sites should produce their own boundaries, and how simplistic structures can bring together the large-scale systems down to an engaging human scale.  Kapiti is a region undergoing fast development and change. Since the days of early European settlement the natural processes once found in there have been altered or depleted to allow for human infrastructure. This has left it with degraded dune and wetland ecosystems. Through the lens of different ‘Acts / Catalysts’ this research uses a variety of design approaches to privilege the human perspective of experiencing space. The design outcome of this research is a series of wooden catalyst structures arranged along a transect starting in Kapiti Island and ending at the foot of the Tararua Ranges.