Media release – Otago Polytechnic

For immediate release, September 1

Bespoke seating to be unveiled for Dunedin’s Warehouse Precinct

Four bespoke seats with locally curated time capsules inside are being unveiled in Dunedin’s historic warehouse precinct tomorrow, the 2nd of September, at 12pm.

As part of the Council’s Warehouse Precinct Revitalisation Plan, Otago Polytechnic’s design and realisation studio, workSpace, was commissioned to craft a series of functional and playful seats that reflect the area’s historical significance.

The sleepers in the seats reference the 150-year-old historic jetty, and the shape of the seats draw inspiration from this place where land and sea once met. Rich in inspiration, each seat has a different story; one resembles the sails of a ship, another a large wave rolling over the Toitū estuary.

Glen Hazelton from the DCC says “The area has seen so many changes over the years and is still evolving. There is an influx of new business, and some that have never changed.” To extend the story of place and embed it in the seats, workSpace contacted local businesses ADInstruments, Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, ArtSenta, Duty Bound and the Chinese Garden to contribute a part of their story to a time capsule.

Over a hundred thoughts on the question ‘what do you want for future Dunedin?’ have been captured on cards from Toitū’s wishing tree – Connor, aged 11, from Outram wrote “Dunedin is the best city in the best country of the world.” Cards ranged in theme from Dunedin focusing on clean tech, to giving “free pony rides”, building “a zoo, and a water theme park”, and “no more pollution!” The cards were specially mounted and bound for preservation by Duty Bound, whose building has housed a bindery for over 110 years.

ArtSenta, a safe environment for facilitated artistic rehabilitation, contributed a hand-bound compilation of artists’ work. The Chinese Gardens gave the book ‘A Garden of Distant Longing’, which documents Dunedin’s affiliation with our sister city Shanghai ‘. The DCC’s plan for the warehouse precinct has also been included, along with a catalogue of AD Instrument’s technological capabilities complete with explanatory DVDs.

Lynda Henderson from workSpace says “the shapes, textures and themes of the seats and time capsule have been selected to promote connection, lingering and communication with current and future users of the area.” The seats’ design allows people to sit, to climb, to lean and to dwell - meeting the requirement of a space that is energised and active, and therefore contributing to the renewed activity in the area.

-ENDS-

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