Waitohi - Johnsonville Library and Community Hub
Waitohi means a lot to me. As a Johnsonville local, I have watched it take shape during the construction phase as it was within easy walking distance of my home. The modern, glass fronted building contrasted strongly against the ageing mall across the road and other dated and uninspiring buildings in the suburb’s centre. I was there on opening day in December 2019, marveling at the light filled interior, curved bookshelves and the tree-like supporting pillars holding up the roof. Designed by Athfield Architects, the multipurpose building housing not just the library but also the excellent cafe, kindergarten and link space to the Keith Spry pool, was a joy to behold. As a photographer with the bulk of my experience concentrated on photographing residential architecture up to this point, I was mesmerized by the big, bold design featuring both large, open plan spaces and specialised areas thoughtfully tucked away in the space as a whole. My natural instinct was to photograph it and so I set myself a personal goal of documenting the space at the start of the new year in 2020. The experience transformed my outlook and narrow focus on the residential side of things and I am now increasingly being commissioned to shoot commercial, civic and government buildings.
