Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei were engaged alongside Warren and Mahoney’s Te Matakīrea team from the earliest stages of the project, developing a cultural narrative that acknowledges the site’s historic relationship with Te Waitematā and the presence of the kawau (cormorant).
The gifted name, Te Paeroa o te Kawau, expresses this narrative - honouring both the mauri of the place and Beca’s legacy within Tāmaki Makaurau - and is woven throughout the design.
Drawing on the kawau’s purposeful, rhythmic flight across Waitematā Harbour, the visual language emphasises movement to guide how people navigate, gather and connect across the three buildings.
Subtle patterns, layered materials and directional markers reflect a sense of coordination and flow that underpins Beca’s collaborative culture.
