Reimagining
Te Ora Hou

Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi is committed to the holistic development of young people, their whānau and communities. Their mahi is wide reaching and includes supporting rangatahi and their whānau through education, mentoring, social work and transition support.

Field Studio’s work with Te Oro Hou has been two major projects, first the arrangement of second hand portacoms on site for their work and educational spaces. Second, the design of a new whare on their land.

When we first became involved with Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi, they had recognised a need for a space that better served the needs of their community, and staff activities. They had purchased four prefabricated buildings from the University of Canterbury, and brought on our architectural expertise to position and build out these spaces and enable them to function as a whole.  



To begin the process, several hui were held with Te Ora Hou to help us understand how the prefabs would be used, in order to best connect and fit out these spaces. The ambition was to create both a meaningful physical environment for rangatahi, and a highly practical work space for staff to host the various programmes run here. We devised a system of raised decking that connects the buildings and provides an elevated walkway for staff and rangatahi. The cluster of buildings surround a well used basketball court, and the decks on each side mean a sunny spot to work or take a break is never far away.

The staff lounge has a fully equipped kitchen to handle large events, and a decidedly relaxing atmosphere (complete with espresso maker and fireplace). It has fast become the heart of the campus.

Next steps

The second stage for the alternative education complex is Te Whare Wawata. This building provides a hub for the community, allowing for overnight stays and hui. Wawata means dream or aspiration in te reo Māori: this whare is the most important building for the organisation, reflecting the vision of the Te Ora Hou whānau. Local artists have worked to translate some of the Te Ora Hou values stories into art interventions inside the whare creating a space rich in the stories of Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi.

Client: Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi
Field studio core project team: Amiria Kiddle, Jonny Knopp, Andrew Just, Lucia de Zavala 
Planner: Planz Consultants
Quantity surveyor: BBD
Surveyor: Access Land Surveying
Geotechnical & structural engineers: RSV Consulting
Fire engineer: Powell Fenwick Consultants
Civil engineer: E2 Environmental
Landscape architect: Form Garden Architecture
Emergency lighting: Ecoglo
Main contractor: Laing Properties (Stage 1), RPC Construction
Photography: Jonny Knopp