L Blocks
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Date2014DescriptionL Blocks
A sculpture by Sophie Hermann
Designed specifically for the site in 2014, L Blocks is composed of laminated timber, vinyl lettering, and a North Japanese hill cherry tree (Prunus sargentii), also known as Sargent's cherry. The sculpture was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the University of Waikato.
The work consists of six large wooden structures in the shape of the letter “L.” Positioned near the university’s actual “L Block” building, the form plays on this coincidence while also referencing the Roman numeral “L” for 50—marking the occasion of the university's half-century milestone. Hermann noted that the work represents “what was here before, where we’ve come from, and where we are going.” This sentiment is reflected in the colour scheme: five of the structures are painted black and red in honour of the first five decades, and the sixth, with a different tone, looks forward to the future.
Arranged in a grid, the “blocks” create a spatial and conceptual connection with the surrounding landscape, especially the pavers and nearby architecture. Some stand vertically, representing native trees such as Kahikatea and Tawa, which once thrived in the area. Others are laid horizontally, transforming into places for viewers to relax, reflect, or engage physically with the artwork.
Each block—and the surrounding glass panels—features fragments of a site-specific poem, which reads:
Haere mai my friend, come,
There is a place for you here;
Where north stand five soldiers
And south the waka lands,
Where morning words escape bound books
And water-trees bathe at sundown.
Haere mai my friend, come,
This place is here.
The poem symbolically references the four compass points and serves as an open invitation to students, staff, and visitors to connect with the artwork and the environment it occupies.
The final element of the composition is the cherry tree, adding a dynamic seasonal layer—shade in summer, light in winter—and symbolically connecting to the nearby Peachgrove Road, once known for its peach cultivation.
Sophie Hermann holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Architectural Science, a Master of Arts and Design, and is a registered architect with award-winning firm Space Division. With professional experience in both New Zealand and Switzerland, her creative practice explores the intersection of architecture, art, landscape, and context.
Hermann describes L Blocks as a “site of exchange” and acknowledges the influence of the Roman concept of genius loci—the spirit of a place. The sculpture embodies that atmosphere and encourages a culture of openness and belonging. Through architecture, text, and natural elements, it offers a place for reflection, connection, and timelessness—expanding beyond its physical presence to invite deeper thought and shared experience
CreatorSophie Sherman
A sculpture by Sophie Hermann
Designed specifically for the site in 2014, L Blocks is composed of laminated timber, vinyl lettering, and a North Japanese hill cherry tree (Prunus sargentii), also known as Sargent's cherry. The sculpture was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the University of Waikato.
The work consists of six large wooden structures in the shape of the letter “L.” Positioned near the university’s actual “L Block” building, the form plays on this coincidence while also referencing the Roman numeral “L” for 50—marking the occasion of the university's half-century milestone. Hermann noted that the work represents “what was here before, where we’ve come from, and where we are going.” This sentiment is reflected in the colour scheme: five of the structures are painted black and red in honour of the first five decades, and the sixth, with a different tone, looks forward to the future.
Arranged in a grid, the “blocks” create a spatial and conceptual connection with the surrounding landscape, especially the pavers and nearby architecture. Some stand vertically, representing native trees such as Kahikatea and Tawa, which once thrived in the area. Others are laid horizontally, transforming into places for viewers to relax, reflect, or engage physically with the artwork.
Each block—and the surrounding glass panels—features fragments of a site-specific poem, which reads:
Haere mai my friend, come,
There is a place for you here;
Where north stand five soldiers
And south the waka lands,
Where morning words escape bound books
And water-trees bathe at sundown.
Haere mai my friend, come,
This place is here.
The poem symbolically references the four compass points and serves as an open invitation to students, staff, and visitors to connect with the artwork and the environment it occupies.
The final element of the composition is the cherry tree, adding a dynamic seasonal layer—shade in summer, light in winter—and symbolically connecting to the nearby Peachgrove Road, once known for its peach cultivation.
Sophie Hermann holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Architectural Science, a Master of Arts and Design, and is a registered architect with award-winning firm Space Division. With professional experience in both New Zealand and Switzerland, her creative practice explores the intersection of architecture, art, landscape, and context.
Hermann describes L Blocks as a “site of exchange” and acknowledges the influence of the Roman concept of genius loci—the spirit of a place. The sculpture embodies that atmosphere and encourages a culture of openness and belonging. Through architecture, text, and natural elements, it offers a place for reflection, connection, and timelessness—expanding beyond its physical presence to invite deeper thought and shared experience
CreatorSophie Sherman
Description
InterviewerJoe Harawira - NarratorLanguageEnglishMāoriSource of AcquisitionCommissionOriginal SourceL Blocks
Location
Latitude/Longitude[1]
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Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our taonga and resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted or referred to within.CopyrightUniversity of Waikato
Relates To
Other ItemsUniversity of Waikato Sculpture Trail
Sophie Sherman, L Blocks (2014). University of Waikato, accessed 25/06/2025, https://onehera.waikato.ac.nz/nodes/view/10639