Waitohi Library and Community Hub

Striking entrance columns, in carefully crafted CNC routered Vulcan timber screening, set this new community hub apart.

Project details

Architect: Athfield Architects

CNC Design: Matthew Mcintyre-Wilson

CNC Routing: Makers of Architecture

Product: Vulcan Screening in Protector - Manuka

Photography credit: Jason Mann Photography

Completion date: Early 2020

Location: Johnsonville - Wellington, New Zealand

Waitohi, Johnsonville’s new library and community hub, supports sustainable city growth and sets a precedent for suburban centres transitioning towards denser ‘town’ centres, consolidating and connecting existing facilities.

Vulcan Screening in Protector - Manuka has been used extensively to the exterior, including carefully crafted 700x88mm x 6m high entrance columns CNC routered by Makers of Architecture, in a design by celebrated artist Matthew Mcintyre-Wilson.

Launched as a design competition by Wellington City Council, the project has delivered:

A new community heart/ town centre for Johnsonville (10,000 additional people expected to live in Johnsonville in the next 20years)
Consolidated community facilities including; Johnsonville Library, Keith Spy Pool (in its existing location), Whānau Manaaki Kindergarten, café - Common Ground, Johnsonville transport hub linking to Memorial Park

Waitohi Library and Community Hub Vulcan Screening Abodo Wood 5

Waitohi Library and Community Hub Vulcan Screening Abodo Wood 2

Waitohi Library and Community Hub Vulcan Screening Abodo Wood 4

Waitohi Library and Community Hub Vulcan Screening Abodo Wood 1

Waitohi Library and Community Hub Vulcan Screening Abodo Wood 3

Awards:

Winner - 2020 Wellington Architecture Awards - Public Architecture Category
Winner - 2021 Wellington Architecture Awards by New Zealand Institute of Architects - Interior Architecture Category