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Kakapo Creek Children's Garden
Smith Architects

Project Name: Kakapo Creek Children's Garden

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Design Team: Smith Architects

Total Floor Area: 450 m²

Completion: 2022

Photography: Mark Scowen

 

Feature: Smith Architects has created an extraordinary early learning centre for up to 100 children in the heart of Mairangi Bay, Auckland, founded on the idea of Nga Hau E Wha, the four winds, being symbolic as a meeting place for people from all backgrounds. This idea is embodied in the design of the building, forming it into a circular shape to create a central meeting space, with four main classrooms arranged around it. The shape of the curve was derived from the shape of the stream which forms the site boundary on the northern side of the building and helps root the building in its place.

 

The project's most striking design feature lies in its revolutionary circular planning that perfectly embodies ideas of connection and meeting. The four classrooms are fully glazed onto the courtyard, which allows connection between inside and out, and between the rooms themselves. This elegantly simple design is topped off by a timber glulam/ply roof canopy and green roof, further unifying the spaces beneath and blending the building into its natural environment.

 

Central to the design philosophy is the seamless integration of sustainability and children's well-being. Natural ventilation is provided through the glazed doors and windows achieving carbon zero, while heating and cooling are provided by electrical heat pump units hidden above the ceiling in bathrooms that are cost-effective to run and low carbon. Extensive landscaping around the building and on the roof with native plants enhances biodiversity, with a green roof reducing rainwater runoff by over 50% from the roof.

 

Material choices honor environmental responsibility and architectural excellence. Materials from the existing house are recycled in playground finishes, while careful placement of the building meant only 3 small trees needed to be removed with new landscaping providing far more. Daylighting is maximized by extensive glazing so that artificial lighting is not required in daytime, with all lighting being LED low-wattage, therefore low carbon.

 

Perhaps most ingeniously, the building design is unique but adaptable—local residents thought it was a restaurant or bar, not childcare, so the building could easily be adapted in the future if childcare is not viable. The project represents the transformative power of educational architecture, redefining children's learning environments through innovative design and environmental integration.

 

Design Team - Smith Architects stands as a distinguished architectural practice that has established an exceptional reputation in innovative sustainable design. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, under the visionary leadership of Founder and Director Phil Smith and Co-Founder and General Manager Tiffany Smith, supported by a diverse team of accomplished architects and designers including Senior Architect Akash Kumar, Lead Senior Architectural Designer Michael Wang, Senior Architectural Designer Madeline Woodd, Architectural Designer Felix Wang, Architectural Designer Shonika Shayal, Architectural Graduate Samein Ferguson, Architectural Graduate Ann Wang, and Architectural Intern Kane Le'au-Anderson.

 

Phil Smith and Tiffany Smith bring exceptional architectural experience and deep understanding of New Zealand's unique character to the practice. The firm's design philosophy emphasizes the transformative power of thoughtful, sustainable, and innovative design, drawing inspiration from the unique character of Aotearoa while embracing the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving global landscape. Their approach is centered on collaboration—working closely with clients to craft architecture that exceeds expectations, reflects individuality, and enriches the spaces it inhabits.

 

The firm's architectural language is founded on the values of creativity, refinement, and care, with Smith Architects integrating disciplines to deliver cohesive and future-focused solutions. By combining architectural vision with leading-edge tools and a dedication to sustainability, they create designs that balance beauty, function, and purpose. With a practice culture grounded in exploration and excellence, their experienced team ensures every project is both a journey and a legacy—connecting people to places, and places to the future.

 

Through thoughtful understanding of local values of hard work, collaboration, and innovation, Smith Architects has established itself as a significant contributor to New Zealand architectural discourse, creating architectural works that are both rooted in place and embrace global design vision. The practice has gained recognition for its commitment to design excellence, ensuring every project is completed to the highest standard.

450 m²

Auckland, New Zealand

2022

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