Work
WESTLAND HIGH SCHOOL
Location:
Size:
Value:
Status:
Studio:
Hokitika
1,450M2
$6.0 million
Completed 2022
TEAM Greymouth
The architecture is inspired by the mountain spine of the Southern Alps to the east. Natural light pours into the entrance, which is defined by a glacier-like roof, guiding visitors toward a spacious, sheltered concourse that opens up to the ocean to the west. The building’s unique color palette symbolizes the two hapū—Makaawhio from the south and Ngāti Waewae from the north—that meet at the Hokitika River.
Westland High School is the sole secondary school in Hokitika, with its existing buildings primarily dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. In 2016, a fire destroyed the Administration Block and the adjacent Assembly Hall.
In 2018, Team Architects were appointed to assemble a consultant team and design a replacement facility. The design was led by Wayne Kelsall, with William Fulton overseeing client relations and coordination with consultants, supported by the Christchurch and Greymouth studios. The new building was officially opened in 2022 and features a striking form that reflects both the local landscape and the cultural identity of its surroundings.
The project not only meets the functional needs for entry, welcome, and assembly but also serves as a powerful physical symbol for a community deeply proud of its heritage.
More projects
