Kōtukutuku Papakāinga - Auckland, New Zealand

Designed by TOA Architects, this highly crafted Māori social housing project uses customised ripple effects on Abodo Tundra Cladding to represent the paddle strokes of a waka (canoe) - and more widely, the journey taken by its residents.

Created to house and heal people on journeys to wellbeing, Kōtukutuku Papakāinga was created for Mahitahi Trust, a Māori mental health and addictions provider that follows Māori kaupapa - traditional and essential Māori principles and foundations - in order to help those in need.

A prominent feature of the building is near the entranceway, where TOA Architects have created a rippling design in the Abodo Tundra vertical shiplap cladding.

Sandblasted into the timber using aluminium stencils and hand finished with Abodo Protector - Teak, these patterns represent paddle strokes through water, and the wider concept of growth and overcoming obstacles. It also features Mahitahi Trust’s tohu, or logo.

As well as being the traditional form of travel, a waka (canoe) is used by Māori in a symbolic sense, to represent a progression of any kind. With the project aiming to help people find their feet and move forwards to a more peaceful and healthful life, the paddles of the waka (canoe) were an apt metaphor for this building.

Please note: Tundra Cladding is no longer available. However, you can achieve a similar look in our Vulcan Cladding – Standard Series.