We're delighted to share that Tréology's Korowai Boardroom Table, designed and crafted for Fisher & Paykel's global headquarters in Auckland, has been awarded Silver at the 2026 Best Design Awards in the Industrial Design – Furniture category.
This recognition celebrates a project that brings together contemporary design, exceptional New Zealand craftsmanship, precision engineering and seamlessly integrated technology, while honouring the extraordinary heritage of ancient New Zealand kauri.
An Architectural Setting Inspired by Nature
Korowai was created for Fisher & Paykel's new global headquarters, designed by RTA Studio. The striking three-storey mass timber building wraps around a regenerated wetland oasis, creating a workplace where architecture, nature and collaboration come together.
Within this thoughtfully designed environment, Korowai was conceived as more than a boardroom table. It was an opportunity to create a sculptural centrepiece that complements the building's architectural vision, while encouraging connection and collaboration.
Rethinking the Traditional Boardroom
The design brief challenged us to reconsider the conventional boardroom environment.
Inspired by the traditional Māori korowai (cloak), the table moves away from the conventional rectangular form and its defined head, instead embracing a design that represents gathering, connection and shared leadership.
Its distinctive sculptural form seats 14 people, providing equal visual presence and encouraging open conversation and collaboration.
The tabletop comprises 14 individually crafted sections, representing the leaders who gather around it, each directed towards a shared central focal point.
Ancient Kauri. Contemporary Design.
At the heart of Korowai is an extraordinary material: ancient New Zealand swamp kauri.
All 14 hand-matched tabletop sections were crafted from a single recovered ancient kauri tree, sourced from the same regional landscape as Fisher & Paykel's headquarters.
Measuring approximately 5.5 metres long and 4.2 metres wide, the table celebrates the natural beauty, grain and character of this remarkable timber.
The decision to use solid kauri rather than veneer was intentional, ensuring the surface can be maintained, repaired and refinished for generations to come.
A discreet GPS provenance tag records the original recovery location of the timber, preserving the connection between the finished piece and the landscape from which it came.
Integrating Technology with Functional Beauty
One of the greatest design challenges was incorporating the sophisticated technology required for a modern global boardroom without compromising the table's sculptural form or the natural beauty of the kauri.
Advanced AV systems, Q-SYS hardware and ZETR USB-C power solutions are discreetly integrated into the design, with cabling concealed within the base to maintain a clean, uninterrupted tabletop.
Precision-engineered steel provides structural support for the generous timber overhang and refined edge detailing, balancing strength with visual lightness.
The result is a seamless integration of traditional craftsmanship, contemporary engineering and modern technology, where every element has been carefully considered.
Celebrating New Zealand Design and Craftsmanship
Receiving a Silver Award at the 2026 Best Design Awards is a meaningful acknowledgement of the design thinking, collaboration and craftsmanship behind Korowai.
We're grateful to Fisher & Paykel for their trust and the opportunity to explore an unconventional approach to the traditional boardroom, and to the talented people whose expertise helped bring this ambitious project to life.
For Tréology, Korowai reflects our belief that furniture can be more than functional. Through thoughtful design, exceptional natural materials and skilled craftsmanship, we create pieces that connect people to nature, tell a story and are made to endure.
Created in nature. Crafted by man.
Pou Auaha / Creative Director
Andrew Davies
Ringatoi Matua / Design Directors
Andrew Davies, Melany-Jayne Davies
Ngā Kaimahi / Team Member
Dominic Hawkins
Kaitautoko / Contributors
Mark Elmore, Richard Heath, Xanthe Whiteley, Iuliia Sankova
For us, Korowai represents what is possible when thoughtful design, exceptional natural materials and traditional craftsmanship come together.
It's a celebration of Aotearoa New Zealand's design capability and a reminder that furniture can be more than functional. It can connect people, tell a story and become something enduring.
Explore the Korowai Boardroom Table at the Best Design Awards
If you're considering a bespoke furniture project, we'd love to explore how Tréology's design expertise, craftsmanship and sustainably sourced New Zealand timbers could bring your vision to life.
Image Credits | Tréology and Biddi Rowley Photography