Tākina - Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre
“Our public buildings need more local stories. We have very few iconic buildings and even fewer that speak to our history.” Jill Day, Wellington City Councillor.
Everyone™ was approached by Wellington City Council to create the name and identity of Wellington’s first purpose-built conference and exhibition centre. The overwhelming sentiment from Wellington City Council was to ensure that the new building’s identity captured the heart of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, one that locals saw as their own and that international visitors saw as an expression of the city.
The distinctive architectural design draws upon meteorological and topographical forms of Wellington Harbour, but a deeper story was unearthed through close consultation with iwi, Taranaki Whānui. As guardians of the Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Taranaki Whānui reconciled the building’s purpose, surrounding elements and ultimate sense of place through a karakia written especially for the building. The karakia boldly summoned the four winds of Tāwhirimātea, god of weather, and paid close attention to their diverse and varied nature in Wellington Harbour. The significance and unique nature of the Wellington wind provided an inspiring foundation for the brand identity.
The Tākina name and identity, along with the organisation’s core essence 'he kura hau - a place of treasured winds' were developed by Everyone™ in partnership with WellingtonNZ and Taranaki Whānui. Forming a true creative partnership with iwi and exchanging ideas produced an inspiring world-class brand and narrative that has given Wellington’s new convention and exhibition centre real spirit. The whole design process from beginning to end was enriching for all.
The name ‘Tākina’ was adopted from the first line of this karakia, meaning to ‘invoke’ or ‘call upon’. The karakia describes how the four winds carry particles, like small specks of knowledge, beyond the stars and back again. Just like ideas, these winds can be calm, raging, clash or adjoin, all speaking to the purpose of this meeting place. This concept informed the development of a broader graphic language for digital wayfinding and large motion graphics throughout the venue.
The distinctive shape of the building designed by Studio Pacific Architecture, draws inspiration from a wide range of sources including its maritime location, the dramatic and wild weather patterns of Tāwhirimātea and the surrounding landforms of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. The unique sculptural form provided the inspiration for the building’s logo.