At Pā Reo, part of Te Wānanga o Ruakawa campus in Ōtaki, tuis fly low between lush native planter beds and world-leading sustainable design is hidden behind the building’s deceptively simple exterior.

And here, there’s another element at play, something that can’t be drafted into even the most meticulous architectural plans—the wairua, or spirit of the place. It’s a sense of peace that resides deep in the land, a calmness that encourages reflection and curiosity, a force for good, a feeling of belonging.

“You definitely feel it when you come here,” says Rawiri Richmond (Ngāti Raukawa), Kaihautū at Te Wananga o Ruakawa. “It’s not one thing but a combination of factors; the people, the whenua, the landscaping, and the buildings themselves.”

As one of the only buildings in Aotearoa developed to reach the stringent international standards of the Living Building Challenge, Pā Reo is fully self-sufficient. It has its own on-site water collection and waste treatment plant, a solar power system that allows the building to be off-grid, and a structure made from low-chemical materials to support carbon neutrality at every stage of its life cycle.

“We wanted buildings that were simple, but an expression of kaitiakitanga. The innovations with the design and the attention to sustainability means this space is good for us, and for our whenua. It’s about being a good example to our people, and if a little campus like us can do it, maybe that will encourage others to do it too.”

Navigating the complexities of the Living Building Challenge, of which only 34 other buildings in the world have met the standard, was a journey. But with a shared dedication to the design ethos, Rawiri says both teams quickly found a close rapport.

“The whole Tennent Brown team has been amazing to work with. They bought into the kotahitanga, the unity of purpose, and that’s powerful. Ewan’s passion for the Living Building challenge is contagious, and we’ve learnt a lot about the building industry. Both Ewan and Hugh have developed a deep understanding of our kaupapa here."

“People say to me ‘why does this place have such a tau (calmness)?’ I think it’s because so many people have given so much love to this place. This whole project has been about looking after Papatūānuku, and maybe she’s sharing some of the love too.”