Nga Purapura

By Tennent Brown Architects

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Ngā Purapura delivers a new type of building that aims to deliver sports, nutrition and lifestyle learning in an environment that embraces the wider community and gives expression to Tikanga Māori. The building incorporates two indoor sports courts, a cardio gym, nutrition training kitchen, classrooms, administration and academic offices.

The whakatauki (proverb) that underlies Te Wānanga -"E kore au e ngaro he kakano i ruia mai i Rangiatea" (I will never be lost, the seed which was sown from Rangiatea) - is also expressed in the nohopuku (reflective) space, being in the form of a kakano (seed). This space is also for developing new kawa (protocols) in support of the kaupapa (purpose) of the facility.

The holistic model of Māori health ’Te Whare tapa Wha' (the four sides of the house) – addresses the need for physical (tinana), mental and emotional (hinengaro), spiritual (wairua), and social (whanau), aspects of life - all to be in balance for wellbeing. The design represents this model with a four folded roof, creating spaces with associated functions leaning against the neutral form of the sports hall.

The Kaupapa panels, sandblasted into the external sports hall walls were designed by Te Wānanga O Raukawa students.

AWARDS

  • 2013 NZIA Branch Award
  • 2013 Best Design Awards Ngā Aho
  • 2013 Best Design Awards Purple Pin
  • 2013 Interior Awards Finalist - Civic
  • 2013 Interior Awards Finalist - Craftmanship
  • 2012 Sustainability Awards Excellence in Concrete for the Community

PUBLICATIONS

  • Architecture NZ July/ Aug 2012
  • Art of the Architect 2014
  • Interior June/ Aug 2013
  • Interior Dec/ Feb 2012/ 2013
Tennent Brown Architects
Wellington
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Professionals used in
Nga Purapura

Tennent Brown Architects
Tennent Brown Architects
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About the
Professional

Tennent Brown is concerned with people, how our buildings and environments will affect their experience. We design to uplift the quality of life, of work, play and wellbeing of those the buildings serve. Architecture is built around people, and every design is an individual's or organisation’s story: their hopes and aspirations for a building that is their own.

People entrust us with realising some expression of themselves, to translate that into built form. We take that seriously. Ours is an architecture of listening and understanding: a humanist architecture.