Nature-led design for connection at Pipiri Lane

The newest addition to Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, Pipiri Lane is a striking flexible work and events space with nature and connection at its heart. A fusion of the restored character Halsey Traders building and a new CLT (cross laminated timber) structure, this latest Generator site was designed to bring people together at scale.

We sat down with Keri Drecki, Senior Associate at Warren and Mahoney and the lead interior designer behind Pipiri Lane, to hear more about the architectural vision that brought this extraordinary place to life.

Q: Tell us about the vision for Pipiri Lane

“From the outset, the design was guided by nature,” says Keri.
“We wanted to create a space and natural textures would feel integral to the experience - not decorative, but foundational.” Working closely with the Generator team, Keri and her colleagues dived into the context of the site, uncovering what makes it special. “Each Generator location has its own personality. Here, events play a central role, so we designed with that in mind - exploring the reasons why people gather and the magic that occurs in those shared environments.”

Q: How did CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) influence the design approach?

The building’s innovative use of CLT timber shaped much more than its structure - it defined its character.
“CLT gives this space a sense of strength and warmth that’s hard to match,” says Keri. “We didn’t want to compete with that - we wanted to complement it.” That ethos inspired the use of natural themes and botanicals throughout the interiors. One standout? A green-toned meeting room named Kawakawa, a nod to native flora and to Hiakai, a cookbook and former restaurant celebrating Aotearoa’s edible botanicals.
“Every detail - from colour palettes to door handles - was considered like a ‘garnish’ in a great recipe,” says Keri.

Q: What role did sustainability play in the design process?

With a 6 Star Green Star rating, Pipiri Lane is one of Auckland’s most sustainable buildings. “When designing this building, sustainability wasn’t a checklist - it was a lens,” Keri explains. From materials like cork and pressed grasses to a considered approach to glazing, every decision was made with environmental impact in mind.
“We asked ourselves, how much are we taking? How can we tread more lightly?” The answer lay in low-carbon construction, strategic material choices, and connecting the design deeply to the local context. “We wanted people to feel that this space belongs here - that it couldn’t exist anywhere else.”

Q: How do Pipiri Lane and the Halsey Traders building relate to each other?

Rather than blending the two buildings into a single aesthetic, the design team leaned into contrast. “It’s not a seamless transition - it’s a collision of character,” says Keri.
The restored Halsey Traders building draws on dark, bark-like textures, while the new CLT structure celebrates warmth and light. A listening lounge nods to the site’s vintage roots, while new elements boldly step into the future. “We purposefully opened the back of the space so people could see how the two buildings talk to each other,” Keri adds.

Q: What were some of the key considerations when designing for events and coworking?

Flexibility was crucial. “We wanted to allow for movement - not just physical movement through the space, but also the shifting energy of an event,” Keri explains. Circulation flows naturally, and the reception is intuitively placed to anchor the experience from the moment you enter. The ground floor flexible workspace provides privacy and separation from event areas.
A high, dramatic timber stairway marks the vertical journey up the building, leading visitors into the large events space, with a sawtooth-style ceiling that opens out to create a sense of arrival. The ground floor flexible workspace provides privacy and separation from event areas.

Q: What are you most excited to see now that Pipiri Lane is complete?

“There’s something expressive about timber buildings - you see the warmth, the way light shifts across the grain. I’m excited to see how people react to it and inhabit it,” says Keri. “And it’s going to be wonderful to see the character Halsey Traders building come to life in a new way that serves the Tamaki Mākaurau of today.”