Te Papa museum
In New Zealand, Wellington, I was in this beautiful gigantic museum Te Papa. As a designer I am always happy to be in Museums. But this one especially made me so so happy. It was a four level gigantic museum. Though once inside it did not feel gigantic at all. They have a couple of permanent expositions about New Zealand and a couple of temporarily expositions. I have been to one exposition: It was about the agriculture of New Zealand in the history and today’s. I enjoyed and learned a lot from the exposition. Next to that I enjoyed the setting of the exposition and the interaction between the visitors and the exhibits. The right amount of information in texts, written in a pleasant way. The right balance in stimulating the different senses. That is, the right balance in using movies, games, information displays, photos, displayed objects and scattering of sounds and voices bringing you into the right mood. A very very pleasant and natural way to take in all the information!
Bringing back the nature of 100 years ago: Act Now
It shocked me and made me sad and feel embarrassed to know that we changed the beautiful nature of New Zealand so much for our own profit.
It was only about 1500 years or so that the first people came to New Zealand. Maoris have cut a lot of New Zealand’s original vegetation, like the enormous Kauri trees. These gigantic trees are perfect building material for boats and houses. Then the European started settling themselves from the 19th century. In only 2 decades or so almost 80% of New Zealand’s original vegetation was destroyed to make room for growing vegetables, fruits and grass for cattle.
Three different maps of New Zealand were displayed in a timeline, showing its original plants and trees and the planted green. Looking at them made my heart ache.
We cannot change what is done. But we can stop doing what we are doing and start to repair. I learned that it takes a tree 125 years to grow into a beautiful mature tree. So that’s why we should Act Now!
So, let's Do Good! 
Posted on April 13, 2011 by yeemaydesigns
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