谷歌奥克兰办公室 | 与当地毛利人文化深度融合的设计典范

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Design: Warren and Mahoney

Client: Google

In a world first, local 'iwi' were involved in the design process of Google's first official home in Aotearoa-New Zealand.

Key features

'When we set out to create our first purpose-built office in New Zealand, we wanted to create the beauty and story of Aotearoa [the Māori name for New Zealand] in a uniquely Google way,' says Caroline Rainsford, Google NZ country director. But the project wasn't only about being 'uniquely Google'; it was also about being authentically Aotearoa. Led by architects Warren and Mahoney, the design process was therefore conducted in close partnership with cultural advisor Anzac Tasker and local iwi ('tribe') Ngāti Whātua.

Nature in its various forms is central to New Zealand and its people, and an elemental theme – te tai or 'the tide' – organically emerged from a series of workshops with Te Aroha Grace from Ngāti Whātua Orākei. 'The tide gives and receives, representing the relationship with Google and Ngāti Whātua Orākei, which goes beyond the project itself and builds on a future partnership,' says Warren and Mahoney interior design principal Scott Compton. The concept is most explicitly expressed in an ephemeral digital ceiling – a nod to Google's world of innovative technology. Playing curated audio-visual scenes from across the country, the screens can be programmed to achieve different identities and ambiences throughout the day.

Frame's take

Rather than fall into any form of cultural appropriation, it's promising to see Google work with local indigenous leaders on this project. The resulting theme is also abstract enough to create an Aotearoa-inspired atmosphere without veering into the gimmicky territory of kiwiana. This, though, is not just a design project; it's a project about dialogue and respect. Without being in the room during the design process, it's impossible to judge the success of that aspect. We'll just have to take cultural advisor Anzac Tasker's word for it: 'Aligning the knowledge of our indigenous authorities and Google sets a great example to the rest of the world as to how these projects should be approached. It's exciting to see what we can achieve together here in Aotearoa, and to demonstrate the multi-faced value in these relationships on a world stage.'