Situated within Te Ao Mārama, Under the Tanoa is a looping animated audio-visual experience that shares the arrival of the three Mana Whenua iwi that make up the Museum’s Taumata-ā-Iwi. This experience contains the stories of Ngāti Whātua Orākei, Ngāti Paoa and Waikato Tainui, told by iwi, complete with rich soundscapes, waiata and animated visuals. It was created alongside iwi by the team at Creature Post.
In the entrance to Te Ao Mārama, artist Graham Tipene has created a tomokanga, a pōwhiri threshold and gateway. Te Tatau Kaitiaki (The Guardians’ Gateway) has been incised into two doors attached to the pillars that the visitor moves through as they enter and exit the space. The doors play a ceremonial role as part of the tikanga of the space, and depict two female figures, embodying the traditional voice of karanga or welcome.
Along with the significant changes to Te Ao Mārama, Kahu Tāmaki was a finalist in two categories Large Brand Identity/Cultural and Toitanga. Kahu Tāmaki, the wardrobe project designed by Nichola Te Kiri, revamped the Museum’s front-of-house Visitor Host uniforms to allow them to feel more connected to their workplace.
Previously Te Ao Mārama won awards at the Auckland and national NZIA Architecture Awards in three categories – Public Architecture and Heritage, and Hospitality. This new public precinct has now been recognised by the Best Awards winning the Public & Institutional Spaces catergory.
Auckland Museum was also a finalist twice in the Digital Installation & Exhibition category for the digital interactives in Tāmaki Herenga Waka: Stories of Auckland. Opened in 2021, Tāmaki Herenga Waka is a new permanent gallery that chronicles Auckland's past and present and looks to the future. The two digital installations were Kei konei koe You are here created with Toybox, and Raurau Mai Living City created with OOM Creative.
Auckland Museum, a finalist in a total of ten categories, last night took home the Best Awards for:
•The redevelopment of Te Ao Mārama for the Public & Institutional Spaces category;
•Te Tatau Kaitiaki for both Exhibition & Temporary Structures and Environment graphics.
“To win these prestigious Best Award categories is an exceptionally proud moment for Auckland War Memorial Museum,” says Dr David Gaimster, Chief Executive of Auckland Museum. “To have the Museum’s transformation recognised by these awards truly celebrates our place in the culture and cultures of 21st-century Tāmaki, Aotearoa and the Pacific.”
“The Public & Institutional Spaces award recognise the achievement of Te Ao Mārama to respect the Museum’s value, while integrating bicultural concepts that deepen engagement with the Museum’s collections and stories,” says Gaimster. “The South Atrium has been given greater cultural dignity, transforming it into a generous public precinct where all visitors are welcomed with manaakitanga.”
The New Zealand Design Institute Best Awards were established in the mid-1970s to celebrate New Zealand’s best graphic design. The New Zealand Best Design Awards has enabled a growing community to benefit from the experience of a jury of international peers.
The redevelopment of Te Ao Mārama and creation of Tāmaki Herenga Waka: Stories of Auckland were supported by public funding from Auckland ratepayers via Auckland Council, as well as a number of Trusts, foundations and individual donors. These awards are a testament to all who contributed to the redevelopment of the Te Ao Mārama South Atrium precinct.
Best Design Awards 2021:
Spatial Public & Institutional Spaces:
WINNER: Te Ao Mārama, Jasmax with FJMT, designTRIBE, and Salmond Reed Architects
Spatial Retail Environments:
FINALIST: Hokohoko Museum Store, Te Ao Mārama, Ignite Architects
Spatial Exhibition & Temporary Structures:
WINNER: Te Tatau Kaitiaki, Te Ao Mārama, Graham Tipene & Jasmax with FJMT, designTRIBE
FINALIST: Under the Tanoa, Te Ao Mārama, Creature Post
Environment graphics:
WINNER: Te Tatau Kaitiaki, Te Ao Mārama, Graham Tipene & Jasmax with FJMT, designTRIBE
Toitanga:
FINALIST: Te Tatau Kaitiaki, Te Ao Mārama, Graham Tipene & Jasmax with FJMT, designTRIBE
FINALIST: Kahu Tāmaki, Te Ao Mārama, Nichola Te Kiri
Large Brand Identity/Cultural:
FINALIST: Kahu Tāmaki, Te Ao Mārama, Nichola Te Kiri
Digital Installation & Exhibition:
FINALIST: Kei konei koe You are here, Tāmaki Herenga Waka: Stories of Auckland, Toybox
FINALIST: Raurau Mai Living City, Tāmaki Herenga Waka: Stories of Auckland, OOM Creative
Best Award Images - Winners and Finalists images HERE
For more stories about Auckland Museum’s Transformation: