When Te Matapihi reopens in early 2026, visitors can look forward to a blend of the familiar and the new. The building will honour and celebrate our city's unique and rich history, and once again become Wellington's home away from home—a place for connection, community and knowledge.
A Groundbreaking Design Partnership
To redesign Te Matapihi, the Council brought together Athfield Architects and Tihei Limited, forming a dynamic partnership of two top-tier designers. Zac Athfield is continuing the legacy of his father Sir Ian Athfield (otherwise known as Ath), who designed the original building, and Tihei is led by renowned designer and artist Rangi Kipa (Te Ātiawa, Taranaki, Ngāti Tama ki te Tauihu).
Ath had a strong relationship with iwi, and his original post-modern design was inspired by the area's history, with mana whenua stories woven throughout.
Zac notes that while partnering with mana whenua isn’t new, these partnerships are growing stronger.
“Diversity and challenges lead to wonderful creative results, and the distinctiveness of iwi is a blessing when you want to develop something that's regionally specific.”
Rangi aims for Te Matapihi to foster a sense of discovery for Wellingtonians and allow us to see our landscape with a new lens.
“I hope that the gift we leave for the community, for all the people that use the facilities and spaces that we design, is that they become more curious about things. This is not just a design job, but a journey for us and those partners that travel alongside us.”
Te Taiao: A Design Rooted in the Natural World