Christchurch Karamata

The new Administration and Library Building at Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate sits prominently on the busy commuter thoroughfare of Selwyn Street just South of Christchurch’s CBD.  The stakeholder’s vision was to improve the school’s presence on the street and enhance the experience of the main entrance of the school for visitors as well as create a new “Heart of the School” by connecting the main campus precincts together. The school was gifted the name “Karamata” by Ngāi Tūāhuriri in 2019. Karamata meaning “the head, the canopy of the tree”, can also mean “pinnacle, summit, high point, peak”. It was chosen as it has mana, it implies success, the canopy shelters and protects those under and in it and it attracts birds, provides a safe haven. A healthy canopy is a sign of a thriving culture, where all elements work together for the best outcomes.  “Karamata” links beautifully with the schools’ traditional motto “Aim High” providing an environment that nurtures, encourages collaboration and achievement in a place that supports young people to spread their wings. This narrative directly informed the design response, with a striking roofline, so that the buildings literal protective canopy folds up and reaches out to Selwyn street exposing a canvas for showcasing the students' graphics depicting kowhai branches and native birds. These motifs were etched into a wood grain panels inserted at intervals between the street & the reception entry in between standard fibre cement panels painted with the appropriately named “Courage”, a deep red that matches the school's logo and speaks in a contemporary way to the last remaining red roofed colonial building on the campus. This statement canopy feature lights up beautifully at night and brings a fresh vitality to Selwyn Street and the community.