Owairaka School

Taking a tree-lined site as inspiration

Set in the leafy suburb of Mt Albert, Auckland, this two-storey learning block connects students with a stand of mature trees outside. Bold architectural gestures and subtle colours keep the students connected with nature.

‘There was a much-loved old pōhutukawa on the site that everyone called “Grandma Tree”,’ explains architect Ryan Duthie from Ignite Architects. ‘Its presence had shaped the school’s landscape and identity for decades, but was no longer safe for the kids. Its memory became a driver in the new building design – the idea of recreating the presence of a tree within the building itself and using it as a connective element.’

The building becomes tree-like

Ignite’s design sets two blocks of eight teaching spaces around a central external atrium, which became the heart of the project. ‘We have long sightlines through the building and out into the surrounding tree canopies, connecting views out to the field and the wider campus to the north.’

Making strong visual and spatial connections to the natural environment was central to the initial concept and guided the choice of Awake and Wetland carpet tiles from Advance Flooring.

‘We looked for a subtle variation in texture and tone to suggest difference without overwhelming the space,’ notes Ryan. ‘We chose the neutral grey Wetland 300 across the main spaces, with Wetland 401 with its green highlights in the breakout zones.’

That restraint carries through the rest of the interior. Earthy tones and greens appear in acoustic wall treatments and balustrades, reinforcing the school’s identity as an Enviro School and emphasising the connection to the surrounding treescape.

Selective use of timber brings warmth and softness to the spaces, allowing student artwork to naturally take centre stage.

A neutral floor that allows clarity and calm to shine through

‘From experience, both highly patterned and more restrained interiors can work in schools, but there’s something particularly effective about this pared-back approach,’ concludes Ryan. ‘Too much colour can quickly become overwhelming, especially in learning environments. Here, the neutral base supports clarity and calm, while still allowing moments of richness and personality to emerge where they matter most.’

The Awake and Wetland carpet tiles meet the Ministry of Education’s requirements for highly durable and cost-effective finishes. The tiles support comfort, have good acoustics and trap dust particles for a clearer indoor air environment. They feature a multi-level loop pile with soft, nature-inspired organic accents.