Te Whare Mātai Ātea (the observatory) is a retreat for the viewing and celebrating of Matariki. This is a time to acknowledge the dead and reflect. A time to be thankful for the harvest, to feast and to share the bounty with family and friends. The built form focuses on light and the passage of time. Each space and each aperture have been placed to capture the light of a significant moment in time. The light of the stars, the sun and the campfire are each mindfully invited in, or excluded, in order to enhance the spiritual and cultural experience for the visitor.