Auckland Botanical Garden’s Weaving Shelter

Project Overview

Auckland Council approached Lidgard to assist with the design, manufacture, and installation of a custom printed PVC shade sail for the New Weaving Shelter. 

While the structural sail installation was technically straightforward for our team, the addition of a large-scale printed graphic introduced a significant layer of complexity. Achieving accurate panel alignment, maintaining print integrity under tension, and ensuring the finished product delivered both structurally and visually required close collaboration and precision at every stage. 

We worked closely alongside Cube Signage, who undertook the printing of the membrane. Their team meticulously specified panel positioning so that once welded and tensioned, the artwork aligned seamlessly across all three panels. 

This collaboration ensured the final installed sail presented as a cohesive, high-impact visual feature rather than a segmented membrane.

The Design 

Dr Richard S Cooper was commissioned by Auckland City Council to design a Whare Pora (House of Weaving) for the Botanical Gardens.

Artists and weavers collaborated to ensure the design reflected Māori values and the visual language of raranga (weaving). Cooper incorporated the Poutama Ahurewa design, this was designed by Te Atiwei Ririnui, a renowned master weaver, into the structure, consulting with Ngā Puāwaitanga o Tāmaki (local weavers group) and Ngati Tamaoho weavers for cultural insights to ensure the design respected and reflected mātauranga.

Hineteiwaiwa is the matriarch of the whare pora. Her domain covers the ebb and flow of the feminine side of humanity, lunar cycles (mātauranga biorhythmic cycles) and intuition. 

Nīwareka (ie. Te whare pora a) is the knowledge holder for the woven arts, of kōtukutuku, whāriki, raranga and whatu. This also incorporates pūoro musical arts of waiata, wind and percussion instruments and mirimiri healing of rongoā. 

Huna is the keeper of the resources of harakeke, and her cultural narrations remind us of tikanga praxis and tukanga processes culminating in the skills matrix for engaging in these art forms. Her name suggests ‘kura huna’, hidden schools or knowledge holders of the trade secrets of the art. 

Surrounding Te Puna Raranga are diverse harakeke varieties from the Botanic Gardens’ collection, emphasizing the connection between land, resources, and weaving practice.

Design & Print Development

The sail was designed as a 13m x 13m x 13m equilateral triangle, fabricated from Ferrari 502 structural PVC membrane. Ferrari 502 was selected for its structural performance, weld integrity, and suitability for high-tension applications in public environments. 

The printed finish required: 

Multiple test prints to validate colour accuracy and scaling 

Tension simulation to ensure artwork would align once under load 

Panel layout planning to prevent distortion during fabrication 

Coordination of seam positioning to avoid visual misalignment 

At Lidgard Shades we were honoured to be part of this project through the manufacturing, and installation of the custom shade sail that forms a key feature of the Weaving Shelter. Our team worked closely with the project partners to ensure the sail complemented the cultural design, supported the purpose of the space, and provided practical sun protection for those who gather, weave, and learn here. It was a privilege for us to contribute to a structure that holds such cultural meaning and brings people together, and we are proud to see the finished shelter now being enjoyed by the community.