wander around the leafy, wooden, three-storey Living Pā complex and watch monitors showing its energy and water consumption – a building “living” in real time. Panels of glass will connect it to the university’s wharenui, Te Tumu Herenga Waka, which has stood on Kelburn Parade for the past 35 years.
This week, the university committed $45 million to the building, but a lot of work lies ahead for the ambitious project. As part of the Living Building Challenge, it will be judged against the highest sustainability rating in the world.
That means it must generate all its own energy, use its own water systems, be entirely carbon-neutral and use non-toxic materials. It also must prove, a year after completion, that it’s as sustainable as it claims – and will be checked by an auditor to officially certify it.
Only 30 other buildings in the world meet the grade, including Tūhoe’s Te Kura Whare, in Tāneatua, Bay of Plenty.
A hub for students will be based on the ground floor, the second floor will have seminar and lecture rooms, and the top floor will situate the Māori studies and sustainability offices. Part of the aim is to centre the marae at the heart of the university.
Deputy vice-chancellor (Māori) professor Rawinia Higgins(Tūhoe) has spearheaded the project.
She was inspired by New Zealand’s first living building, Te Kura Whare, which stands in her tribal homeland.
“I saw how it lifted up the community, not just my own people, but the broader community, it became a destination: people would come, and they’d want to learn.”
Architect Ewan Brown said designing the Living Pā was both “invigorating” and “very, very difficult”.
“The concept is that a building should be like a flower: a flower is rooted in its place, it collects the sun for energy, collects all the water it needs, deals with waste on its own site, it’s completely independent, and non-toxic.”
