The project proposes a new residential typology for Northland, Aotearoa, responding to the rising cost of urban living and migration to semi-rural regions in search of affordable housing. It explores synergies between te ao Māori and Hundertwasser’s philosophies to inform a residential model that facilitates harmony between people, architecture and nature. Hundertwasser’s Five Skins of Man concept describes interconnected layers between humans and earth. He believed that living sustainably in harmony with nature aligns these skins, ensuring the moral hygiene of human occupation on earth. However, unsustainable architecture has ruptured the connection between Skin Three: House and Skin Five: Earth. This design seeks to restore the connection, guided by indigenous knowledge and Hundertwasser’s philosophies.

The design introduces a modular, mobile typology of twelve prefabricated modules, each serving distinct functions. Raised on jack legs and mounted on trailer substructures, the modules can be reconfigured to accommodate various residential structures, from family homes to papakāinga – influenced by the adaptability of customary Māori architecture and Hundertwasser’s Dweller-Architect concept. Residents can personalise the rainscreen facades, as craft and embellishment are significant for both Māori and Hundertwasser. For Māori, this could include mātauranga Māori craft using natural materials, and non-Māori can reflect their own identity.