Embracing Wabi-Sabi and Whakapapa

This research explores the importance of traditional concepts in Japan and Aotearoa, emphasising the interconnection of cultural and spiritual elements as a means of identity reaffirmation. The study highlights the resilience of traditional Japanese carpentry against time and earthquakes, and explores the storytelling and cultural values of Aotearoa. Examining these traditional methods offers insights for developing Aotearoa into a space that honours ancestry, identity, and upbringing while embracing a more diversity-friendly architectural approach for tangata (people) and future generations.