te Whare is the culmination of one architect’s 36-year journey to create a space that embodies the soul, spirit and life of sense of place. The place is Lake Tarawera and te Whare is that journey. This house has continuously grown and adapted to fit whānau, friends and work. Set within the bush landscape, spaces draw in the lake and mountain as they traverse the site and provide delight at each turn. Reminiscent of NZ hero architecture of the 70s, te Whare reflects on a colonial typology and contemporary domestic Māori architecture. te Whare’s journey is ongoing and will unravel more stories as time passes.