Kaumātua Housing, Auckland, NZ

The Hospital Road Apartments, located in Ōtāhuhu, form part of a broader master-planned development spearheaded by Te Whānau o Waipareira and local iwi Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki Whenua. The project, situated on a former golf course adjacent to Middlemore, Aotearoa’s largest hospital, aims to provide quality housing for kaumātua (elders), kuia, and whānau (families) with disabilities. The vision for this development also includes a Whānau Ora Health and Wellness Centre, reinforcing the connection between community living and healthcare.

Te Whānau o Waipareira’s commitment to creating affordable build-to-rent housing with easy access to cultural, healthcare, and community facilities is reflected throughout the design. The development includes 124 apartments across two buildings, with one building rising from six to eight stories along Hospital Road, creating a dynamic transition from the neighboring residential and educational areas toward the hospital.

At the heart of the project are spaces designed to nurture community and well-being. Features like the whare manaaki (inclusive community space), communal gardens, and an early childhood education center enrich the residents' living experience. The vertical circulation cores—symbolizing the trunks of Totara trees—provide gathering spaces that foster connection and dialogue, while visually breaking up the mass of the buildings, creating a light-filled, green environment. These spaces offer Lifemark Level 4 accessibility, ensuring that kaumātua and intergenerational families can enjoy a safe, vibrant, and supportive living environment.

This ambitious project, led by Tom Kenny with architecture and landscape design by Isthmus, was made possible through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s housing program. It exemplifies the pursuit of exceptional design and well-being solutions, delivered at an affordable cost.