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News | 5 February 2025
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Te Matapihi: Design inspired by nature

The redesign of Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, our central library, is rooted in the natural world - inspired by flora and fauna of the forest floor. Read on to learn how Athfield Architects and Tihei Limited are bringing the elements of te taiao (the natural environment) to life to create an inclusive and accessible community space for all.

Artist rendering of Te Matapihi.
Artist impression, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, Harris Street view.

Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, meaning The Window to the Wider World, is being strengthened and is set to reopen next year. 

Original 1990s designers Athfield Architects are working alongside Tihei to the design theme 'te taiao’ (the natural environment), taking inspiration from the flora and fauna that flourished for centuries on our waterfront. 

The arrival of settlers in 1840 saw forest and Māori gardens displaced by industry, commerce, and urban expansion. The Waikoukou stream was polluted and buried under a concrete city and by 1900 the original shoreline had disappeared.

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 

 
Close up of fungi on the forest floor.
The flora and fauna of the forest floor were the inspiration for the Te Matapihi design.

The Te Matapihi karakia ‘Ko Rangi, Ko Papa’ chronicles the natural order of the natural Māori world, establishing a hierarchy with plants, insects and animals and humans as the natural order of things. The challenges we have with climate change and biodiversity loss, that we leave for our mokopuna, guided Rangi to place the theme of the natural world at the heart of Te Matapihi. 
 
“I have focused on te taiao as we have significant climate change going on and the loss of biodiversity is profound and exponentially growing. It would be remiss of me to not focus on our relationship with the planet – our whole identity and survival is built on the interrelationship with the environment.” 

The karakia used in the video, ‘Te Matapihi o Nuku, Te Matapihi o Rangi,’ was written by  Kaiurungi, Principal Advisor Māori to Te Matapihi; Tumarangai Sciascia (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu). 

Rangi looked beyond the big things we notice in nature, like the rākau (trees) in our ngahere (forest), and focused on the wonder of the smaller things that sustain life. The interesting forms and colours of the smaller flora and fauna in the forest. 

Artist impression of the entrance of a central library.
Artist impression of the new Te Matapihi, Te Ngākau entrance

The Te Mataphi redesign speaks to its te taiao theme, Wellington’s unique history, and will incorporate the joy, boldness and humour of the original post-modern building and its interior.  

“It is not often you get a second chance to evolve and improve a design,” says Athfield Architects’ Nick Strachan.  

Original design features like the wavy wall, the ponds, carpet design and ‘floating’ furniture – some might remember the cloak seats – referenced the pre-1840 shoreline and the streams near Te Ngākau Civic Square. 
 
In the redesigned Te Matapihi, visitors can expect a mix of the new and the familiar. 

The iconic Nikau palms will be back, partially redesigned to reflect their natural form and connected to the ground. 

The interior design mimics a forest, starting at the ground level and rising to the canopy, offering changing perspectives and expansive views. 

The wavy wall and wavy seats, inspired by the shoreline, are retained. There will be more natural light, thanks to a new atrium staircase and extra windows where concrete walls used to be. 

Distinct colour palettes inspired by the natural world will help people navigate through the space. 

Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, the name gifted to the library service when it first opened in 1991, translates to ‘The Window to the Wider World’.  

Te Matapihi will, as libraries do, serve as a window to knowledge, inspiring exploration and discovery. It will act as a portal to our past, helping us understand our history, while providing a foundation for looking forward. Its spaces and design will also encourage both introspection and connection, sparking personal reflection. 

Front of Te Matapihi Central Library.
Te Matapihi first opened in 1991

Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui will be a beacon of knowledge, a celebration of Wellington’s history, and a bold step toward the future. When it reopens in 2026, it will once again be a space of learning, discovery, and connection for all Wellingtonians, and bring back life to Te Ngākau Civic Square, the heart of our city. 

Ko Rangi, Ko Papa

Ko Rangi, ko Papa
Ka puta ko Rongo 
Ko Tāne-Mahuta 
Ko Tangaroa 
Ko Tūmatauenga  
Ko Haumie-tiketike 
Ko Tāwhirimātea 
Tokona te Rangi ki runga 
Ko Papa ki raro 
Ka puta te ira tangata 
Ki te whai ao ki te ao mārama
E Rongo whakairia ake ki runga 
Turuturu o whiti whakamaua 
Kia tina, hui ē, tāiki ē