Hamilton Gardens – Hamilton, New Zealand

The distinctive expression of New Zealand design takes shape in a new visitor precinct at one of the country’s most celebrated green spaces.

Project details

Architect: Edwards White Architects

Builder: Downey Construction

Product: Vulcan® Screening (Profile 290 x 32, 65 x 18) – Bandsawn in Protector™ - Straw

Vulcan Screening (Profile 88 x 42) – Bandsawn in Protector™ - Natural

Vulcan® Screening (Profile 88 x 42, 42 x 18) – Bandsawn in Sioo:x Wood Coating

Vulcan® Cladding WB12 – Bandsawn in Sioo:x Wood Coating

Photographer: Simon Wilson

Completion date: 2024

Location: Hamilton, New Zeland

Welcoming more than a million visitors each year, Hamilton Gardens is among the most popular public attractions in New Zealand. At its heart sits a new visitor precinct by Edwards White Architects, which provides a welcoming entry to the internationally acclaimed and award-winning collection of 18 themed gardens.

In response to a brief that required as much repurposing of the historical infrastructure as possible, Edwards White Architects upgraded and revitalised the existing arrival centre and facilities with a uniquely New Zealand design that captures the identity and cultural narrative of Aotearoa. As Hamilton Gardens Director, Lucy Ryan, says, “We wanted a design that honours the significance of the site to mana whenua (Māori authority) and Ngaati Wairere (Waikato - Tainui tribe). We worked closely with our mana whenua advisory group to develop a cultural design that would embed manaakitanga (hospitality, care, and respect) into every element of the new entrance."

Hamilston Gardens Vulcan Screening Cladding Abodo Wood 07

Vulcan Screening culturally patterned - honouring the sites ancestral connections

Hamilston Gardens Vulcan Screening Cladding Two In One Abodo Wood 01

Images showing 6+ months of weathering: Image (left) Vulcan Screening on the ceiling in Protector – Straw + Natural with the façade in Sioo:x | Image (right) Vulcan Screening in Sioo:x | Photography: Sarah Buckley

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Vulcan Screening in Sioo:x shown after 6+ months exposure – weathering off to a silvery grey tone | Photography: Sarah Buckley

To achieve this, the Edwards White Architects team drew inspiration from Te Parapara Garden, blending detailed design elements with the inviting warmth of Abodo timber. In particular, the project used Vulcan® Cladding and multiple profiles of Vulcan® Screening to create an inviting space that expresses the deep ancestral connections of the site and provides a culturally rich entry point for visitors.

“Traditional Māori gardening tools were referenced through an array of tall timber elements, similar to a Māori palisade fence transforming into a sculptural timber screen that draws visitors in, signifying manaakitanga and an arrival to a world-class experience,” they say.

Hamilston Gardens Vulcan Screening Cladding Abodo Wood 02

Vulcan timbers create a warm and inviting entrance for visitors

“

The material selections are durable, sustainable, and of cultural significance, further enhancing the narrative and setting.

- Te Kahui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects

Hamilston Gardens Vulcan Screening Cladding Abodo Wood 05

In a practical sense, the new visitor precinct provides a streamlined entry with better visitor flow and enables paid entry for out-of-town visitors, funds that will be reinvested in continued enhancements for the gardens. Historical facilities have been upgraded with flexible spaces that celebrate the gardens’ aesthetic and provide a sense of place and purpose.

“The outcome balances a complex programme with the historical and cultural importance of the site, and the adaptive reuse of existing materials and venue spaces,” says Te Kahui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects. “Clearly serving as both a gateway and heart to the wider garden, the precinct has the capacity to accommodate a broad range of events as the Hamilton Gardens continue to evolve and grow.”