New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 33/03C | Page 21

be neutral enough to allow the atrium to act as an
active canvas for students’ work.”
Toi Ohomai’s ambition was also for the building
to depict the cultural narrative of the campus like a
watermark. This included a Maori concept of learning
and building knowledge as a progression towards
the light – an idea reflected in the naturally lit atrium
and even through the patterning on the carpet which
evokes the sense of patches of sunlight.
“This conceptual narrative informed a range of
design decisions, including giving design priority to
the main feature stair – the centre of the students’
personal learning journey – as well as the choice of
carpet patterning, floor tiling, the glazing graphics
and selection of furniture fabrics.
“Te Ara o Mauao represents significant change
for Toi Ohomai, moving the Windermere Campus
away from siloed prefab classrooms towards con-
temporary, project-based learning environments,”
says the project architect.
“This dynamic learning facility acts as a
transitional stepping stone, promoting wider
transformation in learning and delivery across other
faculties and the organisation as a whole.”