A Rising New Start For Fergusson Park

The purpose of this research is to identify a solution for community facilities that are experiencing a growing number of users due to population increase, whilst simultaneously facing the future impacts of rising sea levels due to climate change. This research was undertaken to find a solution so that community buildings can have a longer life and under-go an adaptive re-use should the implications of rising sea levels prohibit the current use from continuing. This research will be carried out using the site example of Fergusson Park in Tauranga New Zealand, currently a sports focused community facility that will be underwater in 100 years. The method of this thesis will be to undertake different research techniques in order to uncover the best solution for Fergusson Park through designing a sports pavilion that rises with the sea so that when the sports fields are underwater, the building will have a future beyond the realm of sports. This research is an accumulation of data that lead to one potential design solution that achieved the overall design goals. Through further development there is opportunity to increase the relationship between the natural environment and the built environment, where the design could actively combat climate change through people using the building.