84 | Designed for inclusivity A modern interpretation of a wharenui. Photo: Aaron Radford ARCHITECTURE PAUA Architects T T Bernadette Cooney Leuschke Group Architects Bespoke designs with the site in mind T T Virginia Wright Receiving the 2025 NZIA Waikato/Bay of Plenty Architecture Award in the Education Category, the Whare Ako at Hamilton Boys’ High School is a powerful fusion of tradition, purpose, and design innovation. Designed by award-winning practice PAUA Architects (Procuta Associates Urban + Architecture), this contemporary marae is a bold, thoughtful response to a challenging brief and a limited site – between an 11-metre-high gymnasium, prized rugby fields and a car park. Lead architect Richard Mauriohooho and the PAUA team were commissioned by the Hamilton Boys’ High School Board of Trustees to create a marae complex that could function both as a cultural cornerstone and an integrated learning space. Completed in late 2024, stage 1 of the marae development covers approximately 300sqm. It comprises a whare that doubles as a teaching space, with attached facilities including toilets, storage, and a seminar area. A future wharekai is planned in stage 2. “We’ve looked to provide a modern interpretation of a wharenui, whilst utilising a traditional gable form,” says Richard. “Wharenui are generally quite dark enviLeuschke Group Architects has a diverse portfolio of completed works with particular emphasis on luxury residences, apartment developments and boutique commercial projects. The company was established in the 1980s by Colin and Lindy Leuschke, and a second generation of shareholders and directors are continuing the high level of professionalism and design expertise enjoyed and valued by clients. Based in Auckland, the company recently opened an office in Arrowtown led by Luke Leuschke. Current technologies mean the two offices can collaborate on projects in both the North and South islands. The company is small enough to maintain strong relationships with clients, but big enough to successfully complete large-scale projects. Buildability is the key, whether working on a 20-storey commercial building, a $100 million development of upmarket residences, such as the Victoria Lane apartments in Remuera, or a standalone bespoke build on Great Barrier Island, Aotea, such as the award-winning Palmers beach house. Delivering these bespoke projects is made possible by collaboration with specialist partners, including the climate control solutions provided by Chillex Group, and craftsmanship of HEWE Architectural Cabinetry. The company’s belief in transparency and clear communication lters through its years of experience dealing with builders and developers to the bene t of their clients. “Moving between the large commercial projects and smaller bespoke residential creates a feedback loop – the intimacy of small-scale work o ers freedom to explore ideas, which can be distilled and up-scaled to larger projects,”says Luke. When it comes to bespoke architectural house designs, their focus on delivering on time and on budget means they bring a realistic approach to nding a place where budget and client expectations and requirements meet, but always with an eye to what the site has to o er. For example, it was their engagement with the site that won them the NZIA (New Zealand Institute of Architects) Housing Award 2025 for Palmers beach house, Aotea, Great Barrier Island. What began with client expectations of a rectangular form with a at roof evolved over time to the multi-faceted design that so successfully addresses one of the site’s biggest challenges: how to reconcile the design to accommodate the view and the sun being in opposite directions. “We had to take advantage of the opportunities the site presented,” explains Luke. “Designing for outdoor living with spectacular views to the south and a large massing hill to the north resulted in a very site-speci c outcome. To deal with the spatially dominant hill, we broke up the form of the house into a kind of pinwheel formation based on guarding outdoor spaces from prevailing winds and designing the living spaces to make the most of those views and the sunshine,” he says. A series of split levels step down the site, which slopes to the south. What began as a mono-pitch roof became a complex jigsaw uniting its folding planes, and following the contours of the ground to keep the building low. Combined with the choice of coil-coated aluminum for both roof and cladding, the result minimises the building’s visual impact from its surroundings – despite measuring 400sqm. “We chose a speci c shade of green to re ect the site colours: the ocean, the hillside, the landscaping below with the di erent greens, and made it quite camou aged.” ronments whereby the progression from te pō (darkness) to te ao mārama (light) is often depicted within the interior artworks. We have created this movement with the rising tāhuhu/ridgeline, which relates to the story of Tāwhaki ascending to the heavens in search of knowledge. “The roofline lifts northwards in an upward gesture symbolising student aspiration towards educational progression, while the three architectural “pop-outs” on each side of the building represent ngā kete o te wānanga – three baskets of knowledge. These forms are clad in red-and-black patterned brick, reflecting tukutuku weaving, and double as practical storage spaces within.” Inside, timber veneer panels and acoustic ceiling linings provide warmth and a quiet environment, while detailing has been designed to accommodate future kowhaiwhai artworks and carvings. The flooring is patterned in such a way as to acknowledge ngā hau e whā, the four winds, with patterns converging at the centre to represent kotahitanga, or unity. Founded in 1995, PAUA Architects is known for its environmentally sustainable design, and commitment to Te Ao Māori, spanning commercial, residential, urban and community-build projects. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Commercial | Residential | Education Health and Aged Care | Heritage | Seismic Local and Central Government | Heritage Infrastructure | Industrial AUCKLAND | HAMILTON | | TAURANGA | NAPIER | NEW PLYMOUTH | NELSON WELLINGTON | CHRISTCHURCH | QUEENSTOWN | DUNEDIN Proud to be delivering with Hamilton Boys High 07 834 2497 office@hn.octa.co.nz octa.co.nz Architectural Acoustic Solutions. We are the market leader in decorative, acoustic and fire resistant wall and ceiling panels, offering both off-the-shelf products as well as fully customised solutions. 117 Hugo Johnston Drive, Penrose, Auckland 0800 211 311 | brpinfo@bigrivergroup.co.nz www.bigriverpanels.co.nz
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