Katie Skelton

Ha-Okioki | The breath-Pause

Bachelor of Design Interior Design Experience Design Human Centred Design

Hā-Okioki communal lunch room overlooking Nuffield Street

Hā-Okioki creates an alternative rhythm within Newmarket’s fast-paced, consumption-driven environment, inviting people to Stop. Breathe. Rest.

Informed by my years working in Newmarket’s retail environment, Hā-Okioki honours the often-unseen care given by those who serve others, and their own need to feel cared for.

Grounded in manaakitanga, Hā-Okioki reimagines Nuffield Lane’s history of service, shifting the focus from transaction to care and strengthening relationships between people, whenua and community. A communal lunchroom, reading nooks, rooftop garden and public commons offer spaces to rest, gather and reconnect.

Sound recordings of everyday movement in the area, combined with a heartbeat, shape ceramic vessels, the shade canopy, material choices and architectural details, connecting the design to the people and heart of the lane. Reclaimed kauri benches, held and supported by repurposed telephone posts, bring together the natural and industrial histories of the lane, offering a physical expression of rest and support.

Hā-Okioki offers an urban exhale, reconnecting people with the mauri of place and restoring our capacity to care.

Communal Lunchroom - A shared space for carers/staff to gather, eat and connect. Reclaimed kauri seating, natural light and a green tiled wall resembling the kauri cone create a welcoming environment that places care and everyday wellbeing at its centre.

Light and Connection - Brick, timber and stained glass bring warmth and light into the interior entrance. Openings between levels create visual connections, while quieter spaces offer opportunities for retreat, reflection and rest.

The Public Commons - A gathering place beneath the circular shade canopy, inviting people to stop, sit and connect. Shared seating, planting and an open stage transform the Lane from a place of service into a space for community and belonging.