Indigenous architecture | Architecture Now

The craft of layering narrative

Projects | Trudie Bradbourne explores the layers of cultural history embodied in Te Whare Hononga, in Ngāmotu New Plymouth, by Tennent Brown Architects.

Towards an old architecture

Projects | Anthony Hōete finds an emergent force in play at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato University of Waikato’s The Pā, designed in collaboration by Architectus, Jasmax and designTRIBE.

Opening of Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel delivers fusion of cultural and high-end design

A fusion of cultural and high-end design

Projects | Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel — Waikato-Tainui’s $200m project — has officially opened and displays both architectural and cultural significance.

Ka hoki ki te whare huri ai e!

Projects | Rameka Alexander-Tu’inukuafe and Saul Roberts take a uniquely Māori view in their exploration of RCG’s Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa in Rotorua.

Whare brings joy, love and deep connection

News | Wharenui Harikoa opens at Waikato Museum 1 December. The brightly crocheted meeting house has already attracted thousands and is on track to becoming an international treasure.

Indigenous knowledge to tackle climate change

Practice | A new podcast series from the NUWAO project, features AUT-led research into nature-based solutions to climate change, rooted in indigenous knowledges.

Historic Bay of Plenty wharenui to be rebuilt

Projects | Endangered Māori building methods pass seismic testing.

The Drawing Board

Review | Anthony Hōete watched Whakaata Māori’s The Drawing Board with Matilda Phillips and, together, they consider its narrative on the rise of Māori architecture.

Sharing mātauranga Māori

Projects | Deidre Brown tells the founding story of Te Taumata o Kupe, Te Mahurehure Marae, by TOA Architects.

Exhibition: Oceanic Architectural Routes: The photographic archive of Mike Austin

Review | Karamia Müller discusses the Mike Austin photography exhibition, designed by Hannah Manning-Scott for Objectspace, curated by Leali’ifano Albert L. Refiti.

He kooti hou - Te Kooti Whenua Māori, Māori Land Court

Projects | Jade Kake explores the multilayered design features of Te Kooti Whenua Māori, the new Māori Land Court in Whangārei, by GHDWoodhead creativespaces and Studio Pasifika.

From tin shed to contemporary theatre

Projects | Te Pou Theatre’s interior fit-out, led by architect Graeme Burgess, has te ao Māori at its heart and, through this kaupapa, is redefining indigenous architecture in NZ.

New TV series The Drawing Board documents the rise of Māori architecture

The Drawing Board – The rise of Māori architecture

News | A new tv show premiering 27 February at 7.30 PM on Whakaata Māori, explores how indigenous architectural design is reshaping our spaces through a Māori lens.

Māori design in Auckland’s cityscape climbing

News | Thanks to Auckland Council initiatives, the expression of Māori culture in Auckland’s CBD has risen exponentially and is expected to grow.

Feel Māori, look Māori, be Māori

Projects | Karamia Müller visits Kōtukutuku Papakāinga, a Mahitahi Trust social housing project in Auckland’s Ōtara, and finds TOA Architects has created a place of special significance, which welcomes, protects and fosters connections.

Deeply inherent and indivisible

Projects | Hugh Tennent visits Massey University Wellington’s new marae, Te Rau Karamu, and finds a unique collaboration between Te Kāhui Toi and Athfield Architects.

Transcolonisation: 1990–2020

Practice | Anthony Hoete traces 30 years of the slow road to Te Ao Māori architecture in Aotearoa and the quest to reconcile colonial traditions and European influences with a sustained interest in the indigenous project.

Our Aotearoa: Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity in architecture

Practice | In the first of a new column that aims to amplify minority voices, Jade Kake and Desna Whaanga-Schollum discuss how Te Tiriti underpins indigenous approaches to design.