As part of the inaugural Aotearoa Festival of Design – held between Whanganui and Te Papaioea Palmerston North in October – we’re excited to be taking our Open Home series with Dulux to Manawatū. 

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It’s an extra special bonus event, staged over two days and three fantastic buildings that show the diversity of architecture in the region. 

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First up, on Friday afternoon, we’re visiting a long-forgotten – and recently revived – house by Don Wilson. You might know of his own home, recently and beautifully restored; nearby, he designed a similar home for the Hatrick family. With distinctive horizontal planes and the use of local stone, it shows the architect’s revolutionary international style. At a time when New Zealand architects were building elegant sheds, Wilson's glamorous American-influenced modernism included generous windows, clear composition and extensive built-in cabinetry. 

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Also on Friday? Te Ruamātatoru by Dalgleish Architects, which featured in issue 32 of Here last year. Built at Whakaniwha, a garden at Pūtiki in Whanganui connected to Ngāti Ruaka hapū, Te Ruamātatoru was inspired by a now-derelict pataka kai – food store house – at Rānana. This delightful small building is part of a broader kaupapa to restore the whenua, planting local indigenous flora along riparian margins using seeds collected from Rānana.

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And finally, on Saturday morning? Strip Mall by Spacecraft Architects – winner of the Density award in the 2024 Here Awards. On a long-neglected commercial site on the main road into Te Papaioea Palmerston North, Strip Mall is a shining example of what density in a regional centre might look like. Housing its owners two businesses and a generous apartment, it's practical, colourful and fun, using commercial building techniques to striking effect. 

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Get your tickets now – this will sell out. 

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Open Home Manawatū

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Strip Mall by Spacecraft Architects; Te Ruamātatoru by Dalgleish Architects and Hatrick House by Don Wilson

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When:

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Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October, 2026

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Tickets:

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$30 (limited numbers!)

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Regular attendees will notice we've set this one up a little differently – please pay attention to the scheduled times and choose carefully!

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