Pool party in Miami, who’s coming?
We are delighted to share that DCA Architects of Transformation’s Whare Waka project has been shortlisted for the 2025 World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards. Often described as the architectural equivalent of the Olympic Games, bringing together the world’s leading architectural designs to compete for one of the industry’s most prestigious honours.
The Whare Waka is a special building — the final significant piece of the Rotorua lakefront development, it houses the Te Arawa taua (war canoe), created in 1989 by master carver Lyonel Grant for the Waitangi centenary celebrations.
While the design brief appeared simple at first glance, DCA recognised the immense responsibility it carried — to create a shelter that would both honour and appropriately house the taonga, while remaining mindful not to overshadow the mana of the waka itself. The design needed to offer more than a basic shelter, yet remain understated enough to ensure the waka remained the primary focus.
Master carver Lyonel Grant was a key collaborator and cultural advisor to DCA throughout the design process. The masterplan required a highly specific orientation, a strict north–south axis aligned with Tūtānekai Street and Lake Rotorua. This alignment followed significant ley lines connecting Maketū and Tongariro, the northern and southern boundaries of Te Arawa iwi tribal lands.
The structure’s proportions — long, narrow, and tall — were driven directly by the functional requirements to house the waka. To minimise the perceived visual weight of the roof, a custom-designed wide aluminium gutter was introduced, creating the illusion of a paper-thin floating plane.
A key design gesture was the creation of a ‘slow reveal’. A timber screen separates the carpark from the waka, encouraging visitors to approach on foot and encounter the waka with intention. This screen also offers protection from direct sunlight. Lyonel Grant designed a traditional Te Arawa tāniko pattern into the TMT timber screen, embedding cultural meaning into the architectural fabric.
Above, the ceiling is engraved with a Te Reo Māori reference to Maketū and Tongariro, and subtly echoes the traditional hull-stitching pattern of waka construction. Surrounding the space, six carved tūtū represent Te Arawa ancestors, positioned as guardians over the waka.
The design outcome stands as a testament to the strength of collaboration and the application of fundamental co-design principles — upheld and respected by DCA, Council, iwi, contractors, and cultural advisor Lyonel Grant.
The 2025 World Architecture Festival will take place in Miami Beach from 12 - 14 November 2025 – Darryl Church will be presenting the Whare Waka project (shortlisted in the Completed Buildings - Display category) live to a panel of judges.
We look forward to showcasing the Whare Waka on the world stage!
Project Team:
Designers: DCA Architects of Transformation
Client: Rotorua Lakes Council
Cultural Advisor and artist: Lyonel Grant
Project Managers: Veros
Geotechnical/Structural/Civil Engineering: BSK
Electrical Engineering: SED Consultants
Contractor: Urbo Homes
