Whare Timu (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa)

A force in the world of Indigenous design, Whare Timu is redefining the architectural landscape – one story and one community at a time. With a mastery of weaving ancestral knowledge into contemporary spaces, Whare’s work is more than just architecture; it’s a reclamation, a resurgence, and a bold reimagining of how Indigenous voices shape […]

A force in the world of Indigenous design, Whare Timu is redefining the architectural landscape – one story and one community at a time. With a mastery of weaving ancestral knowledge into contemporary spaces, Whare’s work is more than just architecture; it’s a reclamation, a resurgence, and a bold reimagining of how Indigenous voices shape the built environment.

From large-scale civic and infrastructure projects to deeply personal cultural spaces, Whare’s impact stretches across Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and the Asia-Pacific. His expertise in co-design isn’t just about consultation – it’s about genuine partnership, where Indigenous wisdom leads and architecture follows. His projects stand as testaments to what happens when design isn’t just about function, but about whakapapa (geneology), identity, and belonging.

Beyond the drawing board, Whare is a fierce advocate for shifting the paradigm – championing Indigenous agency in architecture, decolonising design processes, and mentoring the next generation of creatives to dream bigger and build bolder. With international recognition and a growing legacy of award-winning work, Whare is shaping a future where architecture doesn’t just reflect culture – it breathes it.