Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology – Te Tahuhuroa O Ihenga, Rotorua
Celebrating Knowledge, Culture, and Connection Through Design
Esse Architects was awarded the Māori Studies building at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology following an open design competition. The project called for a concept that would reflect both the academic and cultural identity of the institute, while sitting in close relationship to the Tangatarua Marae on campus.
The design draws inspiration from the ancestral shark, Te Arawa, a powerful symbol of lineage and guardianship within the local iwi. This concept informed the building’s distinctive curved form — a sweeping architectural gesture that revolves around a central tahuhu (spine). The tahuhu runs physically and visually through the building, linking each learning and communal space while orienting the entire structure toward the Marae.
Client: Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
Location: Rotorua, New Zealand
Project Type: Institutional / Cultural Education Facility
Scope: Concept design for new Māori Studies building
Design Inspiration: The ancestral shark Te Arawa; the three baskets of knowledge
Design Approach: Integration of cultural narrative and architectural form through curved spatial design
Key Focus Areas: Cultural alignment, storytelling through structure, light as knowledge, connection to Tangatarua Marae
Esse’s design team sought to embody the wairua (spirit) of the people who would gather within the building. Light, structure, and material were used intentionally to express the movement and sharing of knowledge. The exposed rafters of the spine and generous glazing represent the entry of knowledge into the space, a symbolic reference to the story of the three baskets of knowledge (Ngā Kete o Te Wānanga) — an enduring Māori narrative about learning, understanding, and wisdom.
The resulting concept is both culturally resonant and architecturally innovative, weaving together traditional Māori symbolism with contemporary design techniques. Te Tahuhuroa O Ihenga stands as a space of connection between people and place, learning and tradition, spirit and structure.
