Award winning splash of colour
Judges say neutral tones, black, and natural timber finishes create a space that feels both warm and inviting.
The new Tūwharetoa and Taupō District Council administration building – He Whare Hono o Tūwharetoa – is one of four regional winners in the Architectural Design Awards.
DCA Architects of Transformation managing director Darryl Church won the Regional Resene Colour in Design Award.
The project is described as “a design-build-leaseback for a new civic administration building for the Taupo District Council”.
ADNZ judges said the building proves that less is more.
“It’s a carefully considered palette, featuring touches of neutral tones, black, and natural timber finishes to create a space that feels both warm and inviting.
“A bold black ceiling draws the eye upward, accentuating the structural elements it defines. Outside, a striking contrast of black and white conveys strength and confidence, while inside the neutral hues ground the space wrap you in a cocoon like atmosphere.”
Other winners were Lee Turner of Turner Road Architecture for Tamahere Country Club Café in Hamilton, John Hayes of Ninethirty for Repurposed with Purpose in Kirikiriroa and Madushin Amarasekera of Construkt Architects for Akakura Superlot in Hamilton.
John Hayes was a big winner of the night, taking home the Regional Award for Architectural Spaces and Structures AND the Regional ADNZ Resene Kaitiakitanga Award.
His design, Repurposed with Purpose, is a transportable studio, utilising discarded construction materials.
“One day a week over 17 months, the team at Ninethirty Architecture designed and built this transportable studio using discarded construction materials and building waste. It’s more than just a small space, it’s a celebration of reuse, reinvention, and generosity. Upon completion, it was listed on TradeMe, with 100% of the proceeds donated to charity,” shares John.
The ADNZ judges applauded this small but significant project.
“It exemplifies the power of architecture to give new life to discarded materials. Through exceptional craft and a strong conceptual framework, this project transforms what was once overlooked into something precious. This is a poetic architectural statement that elevates the humble into the treasured, a true exemplar of sustainability with soul which we hope to see more of in Aotearoa in the future.”
ADZN CEO, Keryn Davis agreed, sharing projects like this are the very reason the Kaitiakitanga Award was established.
“Sometimes architecture goes beyond a need or a want and enters the realm of art and responsibility. John and his team have created something special that asks us all to consider what is waste and how could we be doing more.”
Lee Turner received a Highly Commended award for Commercial Architecture for the Tamahere Country Club Café. Judges said the space was poised to become a community landmark.
“This café anticipates its future role as a social and civic anchor within a growing neighbourhood. The architecture invites gathering and interaction, with welcoming forms and a domestic scale that support its integration into the community fabric. Thoughtful detailing and siting reinforce its identity as a place of connection and amenity.”
Madushin Amarasekera received a Commended award for Multi-Unit Housing for Akakura Superlot. Comprising 14 homes within Aurora, a master planned neighbourhood in Hamilton’s Peacocke Growth Area, the project aims to foster a strong sense of community. It features compact medium-density housing, green open spaces, well-designed fencing, and low-height soft landscaping.
ADNZ judges called it a pragmatic and efficient housing solution.
“It organises itself with clarity and a strong orientation. Doing exactly what it needs to do without excessive embellishment, its strength lies in its coherence and the clarity of its planning.”
The Regional winners will now proceed to the National Awards on Friday 31 October. As one of the most prestigious architecture awards in the country, more than 140 entries were received to the 2025 ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards. Congratulations to the Waikato Award winners.
More about He Whare Hono o Tūwharetoa
Project description
Taupō District Council called for developers to propose a design-build-leaseback for a new civic administration building. The business entities of Iwi Tūwharetoa combined and partnered with DCA, which ultimately won the contract. A winning element of the design was the co-location of the Tūwharetoa entities to foster greater synergies between council and the Iwi. The building was required to meet IL4 resilience; NABERs and a GreenStar design environmental rating. Tūwharetoa and DCA recognised the opportunity for a cultural narrative to be woven and integrated through the building.
The site is central within the CBD and adjoins the existing council owned public carpark to the south on Te Heuheu Street. The site is elevated over the waterfront to south, so building up would allow views over Lake and towards the national park mountains the Tūwharetoa ancestral Maunga, Mt Tongariro. Views from the 4th floor sight Mt Tauhara another culturally important feature. While other culturally significant landscape features such as Huka falls, Waikato River and Aratiatia rapids are not visible from the site, it was important to find alternative references to these features.
Accessibility for public was a key factor and the ability for a dual access from Horomatangi Street and south from the public carpark were seen as an asset to the site location.
The full site, boundary to boundary was required to meet the spatial brief. The northern street edge is designed with soft organic shaped landscaping, seating, shade and weather protection as the civic gesture to community.
Design features
A four-level atrium connected to the main Horomatangi Street to the North and a South entry connected to council public carpark.
This created a vertical circulation and orientation spine that accessed the 4 levels. The pushing and pulling of the public landings to each level within the atrium are pointed in ley lines south the Tongariro (Maunga) and north towards Huka falls and Aratiatia rapids, synonymous with ancestral legends. The western interior wall of the atrium is a large scale artwork depicting the narratives of Tūwharetoa.
A laser cut artwork screen to the street recalls the story of high priest Ngatoroirangi plucking tassels from his Korowai, throwing in the Lake to create aquatic life. This screen cascades down to a canopy that is an analogy of the turbulent waters of Huka falls and Aratiatia rapids.
The mezzanine floor of Tūwharetoa offices look directly across to the celestial artworks and was described informally, like a “Sky Waka” carrying the people of Tūwharetoa. DCA picked up on this idea and developed the window mullions in the shape of Waka hoe, presented back, and adopted in the narrative.
Early incorporation of a high level of sustainability across the integrated design team (NZGBC 4 Greenstar) created a high performing building. The incorporation of NABERs design parameters enables ongoing future focussed energy efficiency. Bike racks, scooter/electric bike chargers along with EoT facilities encourage staff to take alternative modes of transport. EV chargers are provided for EV fleet vehicles.
Project Summary
The project is a development by Iwi Tūwharetoa for the Civic Administration building leased back to Taupo District Council. A key element of the design was the co-location of the Tūwharetoa entities with TDC to foster greater synergies between council and the Iwi. The building is designed to IL4 resilience rating; Greenstar 4 design and NABERSNZ energy evaluations. Tūwharetoa and DCA recognised the opportunity for a cultural narrative to be woven and integrated through the building and proceeded to engage with local narrators and artists to develop artworks integral to the building design.