The South Atrium welcomes 75% of the museum's visitors, its busiest and most important threshold.

Central to the work was integration. Whakataukī, donor recognition and signage were carefully coordinated with the interior design, so that each element blends harmoniously into the joinery rather than sitting on top of it. The result is a cohesive, aesthetically considered environment where storytelling, recognition and navigation feel like one continuous gesture.

More than an entrance, the South Atrium now sets the tone for the whole visit, a welcoming, culturally grounded space that carries the museum's identity from the very first moment.