b'blue skyE achyearsince2015,TheBrickBaySculptureTrusthasResene we saw many of as we walked the trail. This coupled with the idea invitedemergingarchitectstosubmitconceptsfortheabout the team Lone Ranger of reusing the existing timber led us to the thematic concept of annualBrickBayFollyCompetition.Outofthemanycreating a nest, echoing how a bird would source materials from submissions received, a jury of architects, engineers, academics,Nicholas Rowsby its immediate surroundings.arts administrators, builders, paint experts and previous folly winnersI was born and raised in Auckland. I haveFrom Nicholas perspective, one of the biggest challenges selects one exceptional project to be realised within the grounds ofwanted to be an architect since I was aroundstemmed from the teams approach to try and maintain each the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. The winning team receives fundingeight years old which came from my love oftimber member in its full length while also accounting for the and mentorship to physically complete their buildwhich, for manyart, building with Lego and my Grandpa, whoweathering endured during The Wood Pavilions tenure and the participants, is their first time using tools. Their resulting structurewas a builder. Currently, I work at Becroftdamagesustainedduringitsdeconstruction.Weensuredto investigates the intersection between sculpture and architecture inHowie Architects where I am taking my first steps into theprioritise the shorter lengths as we built up each layer, with the a way that intentionally serves no utilitarian purpose. profession drafting residential alterations and additions. I hopelonger lengths acting as a compromise in case we wouldnt be able Due to the nature of the project and space constraints onto learn more about designing this way as I feel it has someto save them in full. This ended up being the case, so we were the sculpture trail, each of the past folly structures were onlysimilarities to The Nest in that it realises the potential of whatreally glad we accounted for some flexibility in our final design.temporaryandaretypicallydismantledpriortoanewonealready exists to take it further into its next life. For Joseph, the hardest challenge was resolving the foundation beingbuilt.Thefirstsixfollieswereeachconstructedusingof the structure. With a decagonal form not being all too common newmaterials.However,thelatestwinningteam,NicholasJoseph Trace inthebuildingindustry,oursolutioncouldntsimplybefound Rowsby, Joseph Trace and Brandon Carter-Chan, recognisedI was born in the UK but grew up inamongst building standards or product catalogues. This was where an opportunity to give new life to timber from a previous follyAuckland. I always knew I wanted tocreative discussion between our team and the mentors became through their own project. direct myself into a creative vocation,crucial so that we could make all the necessary considerations of After our first site visit in late June 2021, our first impressionand architecture was what Ive gravitatedbuildability and structural viability before building on site.of The Wood Pavilion [the 2019 winning folly project] was how welltowards since my mid-teens. Im currentlyThe effects of the pandemic also had a huge impact on the it complemented the surrounding context of the pond-adjacentworking at AMX Structures. I have always found myselfprocess. Not having access to workshops or accommodation on site, says Nicholas. The dynamic form was created by a sort offixated on details, usually wanting to work on them by hand.site meant we had to take some drastic measures to overcome staggered horizontal stacking of up to 3m long timber members, soOne thing this project has revealed to me is that, down thethesechallenges,saysBrandon.Nickwaskindenoughtoaccess to a spray machine, which helped us to get a consistent it was really honest about its materiality. Seeing it in person madeline, I would really love to still be hands-on in some formallow us to move most of the timber to his grandmothers housefinish on all 797 linear metres of timber. During testing, we had us realise it had a vast amount of material with the potential to beor other in my work. I consider myself a crafty person andwhere we painted, drilled, cleaned and sorted the pieces. Josephstried applying the product with brushes and rollers but wanted upcycled and given a second life. There was also an abundanceI think working on residential projects is a space that allowspartners family generously provided accommodation so that welessvariationsthanhandapplicationoffered.Itwilldefinitely of piwakawaka [New Zealand fantail] inhabiting the site, whichfor that kind of expression. could stay close to site on the weeks where we were doing longmake me think more carefully about the type of application to BirdsBrandon Carter-Chan construction hours. My family was extremely helpful in gettingbest suit each situation in the future.I grew up in Auckland as a dancer in myme to site, as I lived more than an hour and a half drive away. WeI was also amazed by the Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path left and opposite: Brandon, Joseph and Nicholas choseparents studio, Carter-Chan Dance. Acouldnt have done it without the support from our families. paint and how it allowed us to seamlessly integrate safety into to paint The Nest in three different tones to give thefamily friend, Dan Bulog (Director ofMost folly projects that have been completed for previousthestairsandinternalplatformwithoutcompromisingour structure more dimension. On the outside, they usedResene Brave Architects), designed my parentscompetitionswerelargelyconstructedoffsitethroughpre- design. We initially planned to use anti-slip tape, and the paint the darkest hue, Resene Toorak, which was tinted intoOkey Dokey studio, which had a huge impact on myfabricated means, Brandon continues. While I think buildingeliminated the need for that.of aResene Lumbersider Low Sheen. On the inside faces,creativity when dancing and choreographing in the space.The Nest on site was thematically appropriate in relation to howGetting a uniform look to the upcycled timber was a key they used Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen in Resene Lone Ranger. And to give the timber members a freshlyThis inspired me to look into architecture as a careera bird builds from the detritus of its environment, it was still aconsideration,giventhatdifferentareasofthewoodhad sawn look, the ends were painted even lighter in Resenebecause of the effect it has on people. I have always beendecision in adaptation to Covid-19 restrictions. Under differentweathered differently depending on its exposure and that the old feather Lumbersider Low Sheen tinted to Resene Okey Dokey.Resene interested in public spaces, public sculptures and eventcircumstances, I cant help but think what more we may havejoins from the previous design would not align with the new ones. Their efforts were recognised with a Resene TotalToorak spaces. The Brick Bay Folly being designed for the publiclearned if we had the opportunity to build the folly in a more pre- After transporting the timber off site, the team used Resene Colour InstallationExperientialProduct Award.means reaching a larger scope of people. Coming from aplanned way. Paint Prep and Housewash to clean off the two years worth This project has also been recognised by Architecture Three architectural graduates flockMasterPrize (winning four categories: Green ArchitectureBest ofdance background, I am always passionate to provide anNicholas says completing the project taught him things heof dirt that had built up on the surface. Some markings which together to build a nature-inspired follyBest, Miscellaneous Architecture, Recreational Architecture and Smallexperience for a wide audience. I am very fortunate to nowdidnt previously know about applying paint, stains and coatingssignified the previous folly, such as glue residue, screw/bolt holes Architecture), the Best Design Awards and the University of Auckland Bluesbe involved in designing major public spaces at my currentthat he expects will come in handy later in his career. We wereand crowbar denting, were allowed to remain to symbolise the from reclaimed materials. Awards. Images by Sam Hartnett, www.samhartnett.com. job at Isthmus Group. luckyenoughtohavehelpfromJosephsdadwhoprovidedmaterials legacy and share insights into its previous life.72 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 73'