2025 Hawkes Bay/Gisborne Architecture Awards Winner
TKKM Te Wananga Whare Tapere O Takitimu
Guided by the whakataukī ‘Mai i te kopu o te whaea ki te kopu o te whenua’ – from the womb of the mother to the womb of mother earth, which poetically references the enduring principle of ako (reciprocal teaching and learning), Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu offers a poetic response to the aspirations of its community. This is not just a school, but a carefully crafted environment where whānau (family), whakapapa (genealogy), and whenua (land) are held at the heart of the design. Architecture here becomes a storyteller. The buildings unfold around central spaces that nurture gathering, play, and reflection echoing the rhythm of communal life. A carved waharoa (gateway) stands with dignity at the threshold, welcoming all who enter with a sense of belonging and respect. Cultural narratives, gifted by local knowledge holders and storytellers, are woven through the spatial journey, expressed not only through artwork but through form, texture, and orientation. This is a place where ancestral presence is felt, not just seen.Sustainable systems including solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and carefully designed landscapes are integrated with purpose, reinforcing kaitiakitanga, a commitment to stewardship of the natural world. Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu stands as a living example of how architecture can honour the past, serve the present, and inspire the future. It is a place of learning, but also of identity, connection, and care. Rerehua ake nei — an elegant expression of learning, identity, and place.
- Practice
- DCA Architects of Transformation and MOAA Architects in association
- Category
- Education
- Location
- Gisborne/Hawkes Bay
