Puke Ariki museum
The largest new museum development since Te Papa, Puke Ariki in Ariki Street, New Plymouth is a source of pride for Taranaki locals. Winner of numerous awards, it is a bold, inspiring and interactive experience for visitors featuring the paints of Resene.
The interior fitout incorporates five galleries and four floors of public library, each with a unique and specific ambience, together with 3000 artefacts, 2500 interpretive graphics, 35 multimedia interactives, specialist audiovisual and multimedia elements, stunning use of theatrical lighting throughout and a strong relationship between space, colour and visitor experience.
Puke Ariki spreads over two building linked by a glass-clad airbridge – an entirely new purpose designed North Building and the fully redesigned historic New Plymouth Public Library South Building. The building architecture and base interior design was created by Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar.
Colour plays an integral part in the realisation of the design vision for the Puke Ariki complex, creating the excitement, moods and ambience needed for each specific zone, and bringing the museum and library spaces to life.
Exterior cementitious surfaces gleam with the semi-gloss finish of Resene Sonyx 101 tinted to hues of Resene Domino (warm grey brown), Resene Kilamanjaro (deep grey brown), Resene Scooter (turquoise blue), Resene Monza (bright red), Resene Saffron (orange yellow) and neutrals Resene Tea (muddy neutral), Resene Concrete (silver grey) and Resene Tapa (grey neutral). Bold hues underpinned by solid neutrals for visual interest and an appropriate sense of occasion.
The interior palette extends further into brights and bolds featuring Resene Lipstick (pink), Resene Zest (orange), Resene Monza, Resene Scooter, Resene Wasabi (muted lime green), Resene Jelly Bean (clean turquoise blue) and Resene Sushi (lime green) calmed by Resene Bianca (light cream), Resene Diesel (dark black-red) and Resene Half Dutch White (warm cream) with deep Resene Ironside Grey (deep grey) on the ceilings to minimise reflection and focus attention on the exhibits. Easy clean finishes of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel and Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel dominate the sightlines joined by Resene Zylone Sheen low sheen acrylic on paperfaced plasterboard, MDF and particle board. Accents of Resene Enamacryl Metallic tinted to Resene Blast Grey (metallic silver grey) are a fitting finish to ferrous metals making way for the same hue tinted into Resene Uracryl in stairwell areas for maximum durability.
Whether creating the reflective, contemplative zone for the War Memorial or the vibrant spiritual ambience in the Takapau o Taranaki Gallery, the lush and earth focused hues of the Taranaki Naturally Gallery or the quirky bold colourways of Discover it! – the children's library and activity centre – Resene's palette of both subtle and vibrant colours gave 3D Creative the scope to design an outstanding colour-rich experience for visitors and staff alike.
The internal arrangement of space breaks away from the formal tradition of library and museum layouts with five former levels making way for a four storey void. The absence of book stacks from the external walls and a fresh coat of white gives a sense of airy space with an ambience of light.
A groundbreaking mix of museum, library and information centre, Puke Ariki has set a new standard for museums, both in New Zealand and around the world.
Architect: Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Team Architecture Ltd
Building Contractor: Clelands Constructoin
Interior Fitout: 3D Creative
Painting Contractor: IT Lamb Decorators
Resene: Camille Jaspers, Wellington Architectural Services Representative;
New Plymouth ColorShop
From the Resene News – issue 3/2004
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