Location: Wellington, New Zealand.

Architect: Studio Pacific.

He Tohu is a new permanent home for New Zealand’s constitutional documents, including the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand, the Treaty of Waitangi, and the Women’s Suffrage Petition. The document room is designed as a waka huia, a timber treasure box, and sits diagonally in the foyer of the National Library of New Zealand. The taonga sit in freestanding cases, each holding its own power that needs to be respected. The room commemorates past interactions in New Zealand history and encourages reflection in a dark, subdued space. The building successfully balances technical requirements for light, humidity, temperature, fire safety, and security with the creation of a place that allows people to engage intimately with the taonga in He Tohu. The building was jointly opened by New Zealand’s Governor General and Prime Minister in May 2017.

Photo credit: Andy Spain.