The Festival of Transitional Architecture (FESTA) began in 2012 in Christchurch as a creative response to the city's recovery after a devastating earthquake. Curated by Te Pūtahi, a non-profit focused on the city’s rebuild, FESTA’s 2016 headline event, Lean Means, focused on sustainability through creative urban regeneration using waste materials. A team of Massey University students created Pipe Dreaming, a canopy made of cardboard pipes from the carpet industry, suspended with rejected climbing ropes from borrowed building props in an inverted pyramid shape. The pipes featured stenciled words from the design process and were illuminated with visuals created during a 12-week course. These tubes served as pavilions, sculptures, and a nighttime cinematic screen. The process was marked by the ‘superuse’ ethos, inspired by Jos de Krieger of Superuse Studios, emphasizing the creative use of materials diverted from waste streams. The team engaged in dumpster diving, landfill visits, and experimental exploration of waste materials. They collaborated with local artist Julia Morison, who played multiple roles, including mentor and client. One notable aspect was the interdisciplinary approach, as the Massey team welcomed students from various design disciplines, blending art and design into the project. The resulting spatial experience was engaging and interactive, with the form swaying in the breeze, creating intriguing acoustic effects. The projections and team-produced zine, printed on waste paper, sparked conversations. The team’s goal was to create a space for dialogue and interaction, contributing to a successful outcome if people enjoyed the space, engaged with it, and connected with others through it.

Jo Bailey
Julia Morison

Students
Calvin Lai
Franziska Steinkohl
Katie Deller
Maggie Meiklejohn
Nicki Gordon
Nicole Gesmundo
Rachael van Wieringen
Sarah Joubert
Tzu-Shiuan Huang