🏟️🍡⛺️ In 2024, architecture student Jose Benjamin pitched the idea of night markets to North Harbour Stadium as part of their thesis research. A year later, the markets became real and attract hundreds of Aucklanders every week!

This project stands as evidence that thoughtful architecture and adaptive reuse can breathe new life into a city’s existing infrastructure rather than letting it fall to demolition.

“Centring North Harbour Stadium explores how an underutilised stadium can be transformed from a dormant sporting venue into a lively, multi-functional destination for the local community. My design challenges the idea that stadiums should only perform during major sporting events, instead proposing an adaptable space that remains active and meaningful as part of everyday public life. 

Through adaptive reuse and transformable design, the existing stadium is reimagined to accommodate community, cultural and recreational activities, allowing spaces to evolve throughout the day and respond to different users. The concept of “centring” brings people, movement and activity back to the stadium, giving the existing structure a renewed identity while demonstrating how underutilised stadia can be preserved, adapted and reintegrated into the life of their surrounding communities.”

Creator: Jose Benjamin, Architectural Graduate

Type: MArch(Prof) Thesis, University of Auckland

Year: 2024

Supervisor: Kate Linzey

B E N J A M I N E V E R I T T ,

KYOTO TIMBER FRAMES & ASIA KIWI ARCHITECTS

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3 SEP - 1 OCT

TOITU STUDIO ONE PONSONBY GALLERIES 3 & 4

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From the forest floor to the floors of our homes, how does the journey of a single tree shape the future of New Zealand housing?

In Aotearoa, the story of timber is often reduced to a single species: Radiata Pine. While its fast growth has made it a construction staple, our reliance on mono-crop agriculture has led to a cascade of unintended consequences, from ecological damage and biodiversity loss to building waste and issues with long-term housing quality.

Through photos, infographics, models, and diagrams, ‘From the Arborist to the Builder’ is an exhibition that attempts to tell the story of how we can reconsider the way we grow, manufacture, and build using one of our most vital resources, and look beyond timber as a mere resource and instead see it as part of a larger, living network. Drawing on a “cradle-to-cradle” philosophy and the values of Kaitiakitanga (guardianship), this showcase explores how we can improve the design of our homes by considering the entire lifecycle of the wood we use.

Special thanks to Emily Yang, Rachel Kim, and Estuo Hiroi for exhibiting their works, and Studio One Toi Tū for organising such a beautiful gallery space.

On Friday 11th September 2026, Architecture + Women NZ and DULUX announced their winners for their Trianniel Awards at the Glasshouse in Morningside,  Auckland.

Founder of Asia Kiwi Architects, Michelle Wang, was recognised as one of the 5 finalists for the Munro Diversity Award, which aims to recognise those working hard to continually support and promote diversity in the field of architecture. Being the first woman of East-Asian descent to be finalist, Michelle was also the youngest nominee at 29 years old.

We congratulate Elisapeta Heta on winning the Munro Diversity Award.

Full talk evening with timestamps now available on Youtube