We are experienced in master planning, healthcare and educational architecture with expertise in the design of clinical and work space settings.
Manukau Health Park, Auckland
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Counties Manukau will benefit from the redevelopment of Manukau Health Park Superclinic, which will include an expanded renal dialysis service, additional operating rooms, a new radiology hub, Oncology, Opthalmology paediatrics, general surgery and an integrated breast care service. The facility will also be future-proofed to accommodate expansion. We were particularly active in leading clinical usergroup engagement across 10 disciplines, for the current redevelopment after delivering documentation for the initial business case.
We have also been involved in a number of clinical relocation projects on the Middlemore Hospital campus.
Counties Manukau, Awhiniatia Co-location
In 2019/2020, Counties Manukau underwent a full architectural redevelopment for Awhinatia, - a community mental health outpatient service. While operating on a limited budget, this project aimed to improve the patient journey through the service.
We designed a more welcoming reception based on Tikanga and Rongoa Maori principles and to enable Powhiri and Karakia. Reconfiguring consultation rooms in close proximity to a newly formed Wharenui, complete with Atea and Whare Hui provision. During construction, the project included input from Counties Manukau cultural liaison Kaumatua, input from tangata whai ora (previous service users), as well as specialist craftspeople and artists. It also aims to provide future inspiration for Maori and Pacifika clinical trainees and Rongoa practitioners.
Counties Manukau Histopathology Lab
The modernisation of the Histopathology Laboratory on the Ground Floor at Middlemore Hospital's Galbraith Building was a project that involved demolition, building new services and rearranging existing services, in order to commission a new laboratory.
Tauranga Hospital Te Whare Maiangiangi
The concept design for a 30-bed new adult inpatient unit has been completed for Business Case with Te Whatu Ora, incorporating Bay of Plenty's Te Toi Ora Strategy of Te Runganga Hauora Maori o Te Moana a Toi. The design adheres to Kaupapa Maori design principles to incorporate important cultural narratives into the design, such as togetherness, cleansing, and the celebration of mana. This was done in collaboration with BOPDHB's Kaumatua and wide cultural liaison team. These narratives are incorporated through the story of Mauao, woven into the fabric of the building, and via the journey of patients and their whanau along the building's river. Fully ensuited bedroom village clusters surround central rongoa gardens interspersed with various meeting houses and communal whares.
This response aims to support both Maori and non-Maori health practitioners in their practice of tikanga Maori, rongoa Maori, powhiri, waiata, and other related tikanga from matauranga Maori. Not only does this offer a response for healing but it also hopes to inspire young practitioners from all cultures into the profession - an approach that is fully supported by New Zealand governments’ broader outcomes policy.
Favona Primary School, Auckland
Favona Primary School is one of the many educational facilities with which Thema has collaborated to find solutions for maintenance, new construction, and reconfiguration work. This project involved the ILE redevelopment of multiple classrooms and a new entrance along with a refurbished administration block. Inspired by Nainoa Thompson's 1975 navigation of Hokule'a from Hawaii to Tahiti using traditional navigation and boat building, this was seen as a courageous effort to rediscover the mana of Pacific people's endeavours. Navigational detailing is embedded in the school's building envelope and interior, serving as an inspiration to the predominantly Pacifika and Maori student body.
A commitment to planning healthcare that incorporates special consideration for Tikanga Maori
We are making efforts to collaborate and plan healthcare facilities with special consideration for Tikanga Maori in Rongoa, to assist the service to repond to Maori needs and attract Maori clinicians.
Cutting edge design techniques employed
Our team has collaborated with window and roofing manufacturers to create innovative solutions for the re-cladding and re-roofing of aging multi story hospital buildings located on numerous campuses. This interim process enables us to implement repurposing strategies without having to delay ongoing site redevelopment plans.
Collaboration with local suppliers to provide unique solutions
Through collaboration with local suppliers to overcome technical challenges that were not met by the supplier industry, we co-developed unique solutions that could be adopted on future projects. For instance specialist antligature fittings for inpatient mental health facilities.