Ngā mokopuna
TE HERENGA WAKA - VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON
Ngā whare whakahirahira hou o Te Herenga Waka Marae
The two exceptional buildings of Te Herenga Waka Marae
After almost four years of closure, Te Tumu Herenga Waka, the University's wharenui, has reawakened on 06 December 2024, coincidentally on it’s 38th birthday. Ngā Mokopuna is a marae-based, tertiary education whare that stands complementary to the wharenui, Te Tumu Herenga Waka, to evidence Māori kaupapa, and to push the boundaries of what is possible in regenerative building and in life.
The resulting structure is a beautifully designed whare that demonstrates the marae and University’s commitment to manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga – acting with more care towards people and the natural world.
The mass timber, three-storey, 3,000m2 whare is set to become one of around 35 Living Building Challenge (LBC)®, Living Buildings™ (full certification) worldwide. Living Buildings are referenced as the world’s most rigorous building standard.
On the ground floor is a commercial kitchen, marae ablution facilities, a large wharekai and an open engagement space. The second floor comprises teaching and seminar areas and office facilities. The third-floor houses Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and Kaitiakitanga and sustainability office. The building also includes dedicated spaces for doctoral students, research and development, collaborative work and workshop spaces.
Ngā Mokopuna doesn’t operate like a typical commercial building, where systems are rigorously controlled. It’s designed to work with its environment, not burden it. Like a natural ecosystem, the design borrows biophilic design principles, encouraging occupants to physically interact with the internal environment while maximising daylight and ventilation, harvesting engery via 481 solar panels, and operating off solely rainwater. Considerable mahi was completed during design and construction phases to ensure all aspects of the LBC are met, and the LBC performance period is well underway.
TBIG is incredibly proud to have been project managers on Ngā Mokopuna. It is a whare yet so much more than the built environment and typical sustainability practices; Ngā Mokopuna is ultimately about making more conscious regenerative choices for the environment that will provide a legacy, research, learning and other opportunities for our mokopuna and the many generations that will follow.
Images - Jason Mann Photography
