Brick Bay folly launch

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The winning team who designed <em>Daughter of the Swamp</em> are (left to right): Edward Roberts, Raphaela Rose, Alexander Sacha Milojevic and Ryan David Mahon. — The winning team who designed *Daughter of the Swamp* are (left to right): Edward Roberts, Raphaela Rose, Alexander Sacha Milojevic and Ryan David Mahon. Image: Alexander Goh

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<em>Daughter of the Swamp</em> in situ at Brick Bay Vineyard. — *Daughter of the Swamp* in situ at Brick Bay Vineyard. Image: Alexander Goh

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Visitors explore the hinaki or eel-trap form of <em>Daughter of the Swamp</em>. — Visitors explore the hinaki or eel-trap form of *Daughter of the Swamp*. Image: Alexander Goh

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Left to right: The winning team of Edward Roberts, Alexander Sacha Milojevic, Ryan David Mahon and Raphaela Rose. Image: Alexander Goh

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A young visitor explores the internal space of the folly. Image: Alexander Goh

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Adults need to duck down to reach the far end of the folly's interior. — Adults need to duck down to reach the far end of the folly’s interior. Image: Alexander Goh

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The winning team with Richard Didsbury of Brick Bay Sculpture Trail and Richard Harris of Jasmax. Harris was part of the jury to select the winning folly. Image: Alexander Goh

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Visitors explore and enjoy the installation. Image: Alexander Goh

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Christina Didsbury presents the winning team with fine wines from Brick Bay Vineyard. Image: Alexander Goh

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<em>Daughter of the Swamp</em> is sited on the sculpture trail, alongside a large pond. — *Daughter of the Swamp* is sited on the sculpture trail, alongside a large pond. Image: Alexander Goh

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<em>Daughter of the Swamp</em>, in situ at Brick Bay Sculpture Trail near Snells Beach. — *Daughter of the Swamp*, in situ at Brick Bay Sculpture Trail near Snells Beach. Image: Alexander Goh

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The colourful eel-pot structure contrasts well against the bright green surroundings. Image: Alexander Goh

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A visitor investigates the painted rebar which has been curved and welded into shape to form <em>Daughter of the Swamp</em>. — A visitor investigates the painted rebar which has been curved and welded into shape to form *Daughter of the Swamp*. Image: Alexander Goh

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On Saturday 12 March, around 100 people turned up at Brick Bay Sculpture Trail near Snells Beach to celebrate the launch of the 2016 Brick Bay Folly, a competition which was won by three up-and-coming architects and an engineer.

Visitors enjoyed exploring the folly, titled Daughter of the Swamp, which is sited on the edge of a large pond near the beginning of the sculpture trail. The enormous eel-pot or hīnaki form is constructed of coloured-steel ribs made from rebar, which gently wobbles a little in the breeze.

The structure welcomes people in through its head and down through the tail – a form that eventually reduces in size, forcing adult visitors to crouch down and either duckwalk or crawl in order to exit out the other end.

Adults need to duck down to reach the far end of the folly’s interior. Image: Alexander Goh

This hunchback walk provides great entertainment factor, naturally enhanced by consuming Brick Bay Vineyard’s signature fine wines, which are sold in the Noel Lane-designed cafe nearby. It is delightful that only children manage to take a dignified ‘upright’ stroll through the folly.

The winning team of Auckland-based designers – consisting of architectural graduates’ Alexander Sacha Milojevic from Patterson Associates and Raphaela Rose from Jasmax; Ryan David Mahon, who is currently studying for a Master of Architecture (Professional) and Urban Design at The University of Auckland; and Edward Roberts, a geotechnical engineer at Aurecon – spent months constructing Daughter of the Swamp, with assistance from a dedicated group of supporters, principal sponsors Fletchers, Resene and Unitec, and media partners Architecture New Zealand and ArchitectureNow.

See slideshow above for more images of the Brick Bay folly launch.