The design process
After confirming the building would be remediated to the highest standard (base isolation) in October 2020, work began on the design principles for Te Matapihi.
This involved mana whenua, key stakeholders, potential partners, and our library teams.
In April 2021 the following principles were adopted:
- Engage fully with mana whenua. This included an amendment to use the library’s te reo name “Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui”. This name was given by Te Taura Whiri o te reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) when the building originally opened and sits above the entrances. It reflects the Library’s purpose ‘to open windows on the wide world’.
- Design for the visitor which is inclusive for traditional and future users, and to attract the wider population to provide an anchoring social infrastructure in the city.
- Harness the power of partnership by integrating the Libraries, City Archive and Council Service Centre, and making it the home of Capital E.
- Design a visitor experience that is modern, fit for the future, and that is a visitor attraction in its own right.
The Committee also agreed to extend levels 3 and 4, and achieve a target 5-Green-Star rating.
The design team have been working through the requirements for all the different collections, activities, services, or programmes that the building will provide, including the new floors.
Who is involved?
The design team includes specialist people from our Libraries, City Archives, service design and Capital E, and experts in engineering, architecture, cultural and visitor experience.
They are: Athfield Architects who designed the building originally; Aurecon, RCP, RLB, Tihei, Art of Fact, and Māpuna.
LT McGuiness were selected to carry out the construction and plan to preparing to begin earthworks in early 2023, depending on the resource consent process.