Motueka’s net zero community hub

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Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Public Library. Image: Jason Mann

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256 photovoltaic panels and 45kw lithium battery storage, allows the building to operate off-grid for much of the year. Image: Jason Mann

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Red-list free materials were used throughout the project. Image: Jason Mann

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The main entrance aligns to the pedestrian walkway from Motueka’s main street. Image: Jason Mann

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The scale and glazed frontage of the building give it a civic quality while still in keeping with the region's farm-building vernacular. — The scale and glazed frontage of the building give it a civic quality while still in keeping with the region’s farm-building vernacular. Image: Jason Mann

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Local Iwi Ngāti Rarua and Te Atiawa were engaged in developing the cultural design elements of the building. Image: Jason Mann

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Landscape design elements reference both Māori and Pakeha land use patterns. Image: Jason Mann

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Glass transfers reference traditional motifs of Motueka iwi. Image: Jason Mann

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The central entrance and circulation space separates the research and quiet areas from the louder children’s and social spaces. Image: Jason Mann

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The children's space incorporates modular furniture for collaboration and group learning. — The children’s space incorporates modular furniture for collaboration and group learning. Image: Jason Mann

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The children's reading area. — The children’s reading area. Image: Jason Mann

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Two sunny deck areas adjacent to the children's area allow for indoor and outdoor recreation. — Two sunny deck areas adjacent to the children’s area allow for indoor and outdoor recreation. Image: Jason Mann

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The results of collaboration with artists from Ngāti Rarua and Te Atiawa can be seen in the numerous artworks in the library. Image: Jason Mann

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The locally-sourced timber super-structure uses one gravity beam and minimal steel for cross bracing. Image: Jason Mann

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A carefully considered internal programme provides quiet areas for adults and students. Image: Jason Mann

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The design takes visual cues from the rich local heritage of horticultural structures and barns. Image: Jason Mann

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Façade from the north-west. Image: Jason Mann

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The view of the library from Wallace Street. Image: Jason Mann

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Landscaping by Canopy Landscape Architects connects to the streetscape. Image: Jason Mann

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One year on from its opening in March 2022, the net-zero Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Public Library by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects is now powering itself, as well as energising borrowing and memberships.

The brief for the project from Tasman District Council called for community spaces, connection to the nearby reserve, and a sustainable building that referenced the Motueka location. Delivered as a design and build contract with a fixed project budget of $3.8M, the design had a strong focus on low carbon and uses energy-efficient design throughout.

This focus on sustainable design is now paying off; in the twelve months since opening the 80kWh/m2/year used by the 1100m² library has been provided entirely by onsite generation from the 256 roof-mounted photovoltaic panels. The building also produces a surplus of 151kWh/m2/year, which goes back to onsite battery storage or to the grid — enough to power seven houses annually.

Borrowing and memberships have also experienced a surge since the opening of the new library, with a 63% increase in borrowing compared to the previous year and a 30% increase in memberships in the region.

A new take on a traditional vernacular

Local Iwi Ngāti Rarua and Te Atiawa were engaged in developing the cultural design elements of the building. Image: Jason Mann

Inspired by the functional forms of rural farm buildings found in the Tasman region, the library takes its visual cues from horticultural barns and storage sheds.

Utilising a fully timber structure, expansive glazing on the southern side fronts onto nearby Wallace Street creates a strong connection to the street and civic presence. On the northern side, a veranda overlooks the open space of Decks Reserve — providing views and creating a more relaxed environment.

Internally, areas are largely flexible, using an open plan that can be re-configured as needed. The social lounge and children’s areas are located adjacent to the northern veranda, overlooking Decks Reserve, with the young adult area adjacent to this. The adult collections are located in the southern half, with the study, research and quiet reading areas located on the northern and eastern edges away from the louder active spaces.

The central entrance and circulation space separates the research and quiet areas from the louder children’s and social spaces. Image: Jason Mann

Cultural and community design elements throughout the library cultivate a sense of common ownership, responsibility, and respect for the building. Artworks inside the building arose from significant collaboration with artists from local Iwi Ngāti Rarua and Te Atiawa and the surrounding landscape design by Canopy Landscape Architects encourages relaxed engagement, and also references both Māori and Pakeha land use patterns.

Notes on sustainability

Early in the project, a full life cycle carbon analysis was completed for the design of a new building, which assisted in guiding design decisions with the client. The locally-sourced timber super-structure — combined with some clever engineering — has significantly reduced the need for structural steel, requiring only one gravity beam and minimal use of steel for cross bracing.

256 photovoltaic panels and 45kw lithium battery storage, allows the building to operate off-grid for much of the year. Image: Jason Mann

From project inception, there was a goal to reduce the use of toxic materials in the build. This resulted in an in-depth investigation and report procedure on the red list and removing red list items. Although the project was not completely red list-free, this process significantly reduced the selection of toxic materials used in the project.

All the stormwater runoff associated with the building (1400m² of roof) is dealt with on-site through soakage. Added to this is a small water storage tank (10,000l) feeds into the nearby Japanese garden pond with untreated water for the carp.

The design takes visual cues from the rich local heritage of horticultural structures and barns. Image: Jason Mann

Additional funding became available through a grant after the building was on site. This was put into 256 roof-mounted photovoltaic panels — 102kw 3 phase and 45kw lithium battery storage sized to allow the building to operate off-grid for much of the year, to date over 80% of the time.