Authors of the major publication Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere Jeremy Hansen and Jade Kake, along with Rewi Thompson's daughter Lucy, recently spoke to Mark Amery on Culture 101:
‘In 2016 Aotearoa lost architect and teacher Rewi Thompson too young. But as an innovative new book reveals — Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere — Thompson’s legacy lives on not only in buildings and public projects but also his imaginative drawings and teaching.
Of Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Raukawa descent, Rewi Thompson’s works are often more complex than they initially appear. He was noted for his careful consideration of cultural concepts, people and place, and a collaborative approach across civic, social and private projects. His work shows the strong influence of Te Ao Māori but often refused to be bound by notions of Māori architecture.
Thompson’s celebrated public projects include Pōneke’s City to Sea Bridge with John Gray, bold Pacific-influenced canopies in the Ōtara Town Centre, the Pūkenga School of Māori Studies at Unitec and the ‘marae style’ concept of the Mason Clinic.
The book features many commissions, realised and unrealised, including his own bold home in Kohimarama and a submission to design the Te Papa building with Ian Athfield and Frank Gehry.’
Listen to the interview with Jade, Jeremy and Lucy here.
