Kaumātua Housing on Hospital Road - Auckland, NZ

A culturally grounded community for elders. This project provides 124 affordable apartments for kaumātua (Māori elders) and families with disabilities, as part of a broader indigenous-led development.

Client
Te Whānau o Waipareira

Architect-of-Record
Isthmus Group

Completion
Ongoing - in construction

Led by our Principal Architect Tom Kenny (with Isthmus) in partnership with Waipareira Trust, the development was culturally driven from the outset – extensive co-design workshops with kaumātua shaped features like communal whare (gathering spaces), gardens, and design motifs honouring Māori identity – all aimed at fostering intergenerational connection and wellbeing. The result is a vibrant living community that integrates housing with childcare and wellness facilities, serving as a model for culturally responsive design in Indigenous community housing. The vertical circulation cores symbolise Totara tree trunks, blending cultural symbolism with functional design.

Deep co-design and a focus on long-term community wellness.

Strategic approach: deep co-design with indigenous stakeholders and a focus on long-term community wellness delivered a project that not only houses people, but strengthens cultural identity and community ties.

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