Te Ara a Tāwhaki – Otaki, New Zealand

Te Ara a Tāwhaki is the latest building as part of Te Wānanga o Raukawa (a unique centre for higher learning and development, dedicated to the dissemination of Māori knowledge).

Te Ara a Tāwhaki houses the library, main lecture theatre, student services and student hub.

The criss cross pattern on the façade was designed by architects Tennent Brown to reflect traditional Māori flax weaving patterns.

This project required a timber that would be stable enough to cope with this demanding application, while weathering gracefully. Maintenance was also a key consideration given the elevated nature of the structure on a commercial building.

The stability and weathering characteristics of Abodo’s Vulcan Screening made it a natural choice for the project. Vulcan is sustainably sourced, thermally modified timber – a chemical-free, heat-based treatment which dramatically increases the durability and stability of the wood.

The timber’s Sioo:x coating provides long term protection with a beautiful, silvery-grey natural finish.

See the time lapse footage of this 12 month project here.

Download a copy of the project sheet here.