Awapuni School, Gisborne

Special places in Gisborne

Library design

© www.gpl.govt.nz

This is a view inside the library looking towards the stained glass windows.

The ceiling

People think that the ceiling is really interesting because it is a curved one. The whole building is rather old and not many ceilings were built like that at the time. It was designed by Colin Pilbrow and he won many awards and trophies for his magnificent building.

About Colin Pilbrow

A lot of people think Colin Pilbrow was a very talented architect. He also designed the Tairawhiti Museum. He died at the very beginning of September 2005.

Stained glass windows

The glass windows were designed by Stephen Hutton with Julie Biermann-Hutton The construction was done by Keith Babarich, Bryan Gray, Paul Thacker and many more volunteers. It was made in 1993 and it measures 39.5 square meters. The glass window was called Inanahi ki Tenei Whakatipuranga which means: Yesterdays, Yesteryears and the time between until tomorrow.

Here are some pieces of the window with explanations of what they represent.

1700 AD - 1800 AD

Centre top Ra (the sun)
Right is sacred rock Toka-a-Taiau where Captain Cook met the Tangata-whenua.
On the left is the piwaiwaka (fantail) and the kiwi.

Early Influences in Gisborne

The Bishop shows the work of the church. The flag in the corner stands for the Treaty of Waitangi and the three baskets are the three local Runanga (the baskets of knowledge.)

The City

The red arteries are the roads and the blue veins are the rivers.
This is a brilliant piece and is a stylised aerial view.

A Thought for the Future.

This part of the window is dedicated to today's children. It offers hope for unity in the world.

By Annie