June 01, 2022
Housing for hapū architectural challenge
The University of Auckland’s School of Architecture is asking its 120 students to come up with housing ideas for hapū.
Professor Anthony Hoete says he’s keen to encourage different models not only of building and living but of ownership.
Build to rent models of collective ownership are increasingly being employed in Europe, where he has worked on social housing and other projects over the past 30 years
He’s looking at ideas like marae-style accommodation with small modular family units and shared kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and other services.
“We look to Māori and indigenous ways of doing things. The 30-bedroom house, which is effectively what we’re talking about, can be more compact, can be denser, can be more sustainable with a sense of whakawhanaungatanga, kōtahitanga amongst citizens. It really can create wellbeing,so new types of models,” Professor Hoete says.
He’s also keen to hear from any maori secondary school students who are considering studying architecture,.