Led by Wellington City Mission, designed by Three Line Studio, and with fittings and furniture (including Buro seating) supplied by Workfurniture, Whakamaru brings together transitional housing, essential services, and inclusive design under one roof.
Six years in the making, Whakamaru is a purpose-driven space that fosters connection, dignity, and belonging. The project was recognised with a 2025 Wellington Architecture Award, with judges calling it “a deeply considered architectural response to homelessness.”
A space where everyone is welcome
That is the philosophy behind Whakamaru. With long-term transitional housing, a pay-what-you-can café, a medical centre, a social supermarket, and a commercial laundry, Whakamaru is far more than just a building.
From the “bump spaces” designed to spark connection, to the free-of-charge offices and boardrooms available to all, the space is designed to bring people from all walks of life together.
Buro Maxim Stool
Thoughtful furniture for a purposeful space
Creating a space like Whakamaru called for high-quality furniture that could offer long-term comfort, durability in a multi-use environment, and a sense of dignity for everyone who uses it.
Workfurniture, a New Zealand specialist in office furniture and interior fit-outs, and one of Buro’s trusted resellers, supplied the furniture, helping shape spaces that are both practical and welcoming.
Buro seating was selected throughout the fit-out, including: Buro Mentor chairs, Konfurb Harmony 5-star chairs, Buro Peekaboo stools, the Konfurb Star series, and Buro Metro II Connect chairs.
Buro Maxim chairs are robust and stackable, featuring a sled base and an upholstered foam seat pad for extra support. Chosen for their versatility and comfort, 35 Buro Maxim chairs are right at home in Whakamaru — a practical, good-looking option for a space that does it all.
For the office areas, Whakamaru selected the Buro Mentor chair, which stood out for its ergonomic support, warranty, and strong environmental credentials. Designed to move with you, the Buro Mentor automatically adjusts to each person’s weight and posture, keeping users comfortable throughout the day.
To support focused work and private conversations, six Koplus Milli Stand booths were installed across the three dedicated office floors. Buro is proud to have jointly donated one of the six booths, in partnership with Workfurniture. Together, these soundproof pods offer a quiet, comfortable space for phone calls and virtual meetings, no booking required.
A creative collaboration with deep meaning
To make these pieces even more special, Buro collaborated with renowned New Zealand stencil artist FLOX to create a custom design for the Koplus Milli Stand booths.
FLOX’s vibrant, nature-inspired artwork celebrates Aotearoa’s flora and fauna, representing themes of growth, connection, and diversity that align beautifully with the Wellington City Mission’s kaupapa. Her design was applied as decals to the Milli Stand booths, turning each one into a statement piece with both purpose and presence.
By custom-printing the Koplus Milli Stand booths with local artwork, Buro demonstrated how office furniture can be tailored not just to meet a functional need, but to elevate the entire experience of a space, blending comfort, creativity, and cultural meaning in one thoughtful design.
Whether through visual storytelling, brand expression, or a quiet symbol of dignity, the ability to customise the Milli Stand booth turns it into a versatile canvas for your identity and values.
Custom-printed Koplus Milli Stand booths. Design by FLOX
Buro Metro II Connect at Whakamaru
Koplus Milli Stand booths at Whakamaru
Design that makes a difference
At Buro, we believe good design should do good. We’re proud to support community-focused spaces like Whakamaru — where comfort, functionality, and meaning come together to create something truly special.
Learn more about Whakamaru and the vision behind this transformative community hub here.
Have a bespoke, community-minded project?
We’d love to help shape it with customised furniture that makes a difference.
