Entrant:
Wooyoung Jang, University of Auckland
Category:
01. Student Design Award
Overview
The Kākā
The Kākā is a timber play structure located within the Summerhill Bike Trails in Papamoa. Positioned along a network of trails used by riders, families and visiting school groups, it provides a space for climbing, exploration and play within the forest landscape.
The project is part of an ongoing collaboration between the University of Auckland and the Summerhill Charitable Trust, in which architecture thesis students get the opportunity to design and construct small structures on Summerhill land using materials sourced from the Summerhill Timbers stock.
Working with timber from Summerhill Timbers Ltd. shaped the project from the outset. Redwood was selected as the primary structural material for its natural durability, workability and weather resistance, making it well suited to outdoor conditions. Using timber that was directly grown and supplied by the site supported the intention of using a material that originates from the landscape and ultimately returns to it, reinforcing a natural connection between the structure and the surrounding forest environment.
The structure’s form is inspired by the native New Zealand kākā, a forest parrot known for its curious nature, strong beak and nimble movement through the Papamoa forest canopy. Rather than replicating the bird literally, the design interprets its key features to shape the play experience. Layered timber elements suggest wings and tail feathers that guide children into the structure, while the raised “beak” forms an elevated lookout platform, offering views through the surrounding trees. These gestures create a series of spaces that encourage tactile engagement with the timber, all while maintaining a close relationship with the surrounding forest environment.
Timber also guided the structural strategy of the project. One of the key challenges was translating the curved and dynamic qualities of the kākā into a structure constructed entirely from straight timber members. To achieve the illusion of curvature, redwood elements were arranged at varying angles and layered across the frame. Through careful alignment, these straight components create a flowing surface that references hyperbolic paraboloid geometry, allowing an organic form to emerge from simple linear elements. Also, using straight members offered clear construction advantages for a first-time builder: standard lengths could be cut, transported and assembled with conventional joinery, enabling efficient on-site construction while maximising timber use and cost efficiency.
By harnessing locally sourced redwood and a design strategy that celebrates the possibilities of timber, The Kākā transforms material into experience. The structure invites children to climb and play, while forging a lasting connection to the surrounding forest from an early age. More than a play structure, it is a celebration of timber’s ability to shape space and connect people to the natural environment- proving that thoughtful design can turn simple materials into extraordinary experiences.