The Whare in the Bush

Like the Museum of the Vernacular, this project has a distinctly vernacular vibe to it. Four women architectural graduates (myself included) are designing and building a 10m2 cabin with found and donated material, expertise and energy on a patch of land in Matakana.

As the tumblr site explains we are ‘taking on otherwise masculine notions of DIY and building, whilst including the acts of collaboration, and changing the meaning of the term ‘Homemaker’, this whare will become more of a community build. Whilst being an open dialogue about the celebration of how women practice and design. Collectively, the objectives of this project are to create something of an ‘Elastic Band Home’. Somewhere with welcoming and embracing walls for those that need it, expanding, contracting and fitting to the needs of whoever occupies it.’

You can also find more musings and follow our progress on the facebook page for the Whare in the Bush but I will also update the Museum of the Vernacular blog throughout construction.

We are looking forward to the first day of building which is on the 9th of February 2013. Before then we have materials and tools to collect, some ad hoc design to do – if you have anything kicking around home that might be of use to such a project we would love to hear from you. At this stage we’re after nails, ply, timber, packing pallets, old tools and morning tea muffins!