Project Revisit: Te Ara a Tāwhaki

Perfectly straight, weathered to an even silver, and two years later; our Vulcan timber battens are looking as the architect intended.

Completed over two years ago using our Vulcan timber with the silicate coating, Te Ara a Tāwhaki was a new building as part of Te Wānanga o Raukawa (a unique learning laboratory specifically for Māori).

The architects designed a criss cross pattern for the facade, reflecting the traditional Māori flax weaving patterns.

To truly reflect this connection to earth and place, the designers required locally sourced timber which, from a practical perspective, also needed to be:

Durable - Vulcan is Class 2
Stable - 3.5 metre spans were achieved
Low maintenance - A recoat won’t be required for at least 7 years
Long lengths - Our lengths go up to 6 metres

Silicate coating is a unique treatment that, when applied to our Vulcan timber, will last for up to 7 years before a recoat is required. View the original project here