Bianca McFadden

Mahinga-Kai is a farm-to-table restaurant, café, pantry, rooftop garden and market proposed for the corner of Balm and Nuffield Streets in Newmarket, Tāmaki Makaurau. The project explores how a hospitality space can reconnect people with the land, growers and processes behind their food, encouraging a slower appreciation of growing, making and sharing.

Drawing on Newmarket’s agricultural history, the design brings food exchange and gathering into the contemporary shopping district. The restaurant accommodates shared meals during the week and transforms into a weekend market for local growers. The pantry offers produce from around Aotearoa, extending the connection between the dining experience and the origins of its ingredients.

Visitors receive a kete at the entrance and follow the pulley ropes towards the rooftop garden. Here, they can gather fresh produce and turn a handle to lower their basket to the kitchen. This interaction makes the journey of food visible, while edible and native planting creates a quieter setting above the street and encourages birdlife.