Dalman Architecture
Project Location:
Franz Joseph. New Zealand
Categories:
Commercial Architectural Excellence, Sustainability Award, Cladding Building Envelope, Interior Fit Out
Project Description:
Franz Josef is an area of outstanding natural heritage. Because it was important to minimise the impact on the forest environment, important specimen trees were carefully located and building locations adjusted to preserve as many of these as practicable.
There was a desire to make this a hotel that spoke of its location. The building’s exterior is designed to blend into the bush and fit with the West Coast aesthetic. The building is clad in stained rough sawn cedar and plywood, adopting a colour-scheme sitting comfortably with the tones of the native bush on site.
The use of high energy content materials such as steel are minimized with a real emphasis on fully renewable materials such as timber – for structure, cladding and interior fit out. Wood may be the world’s most renewable raw material. For this reason, forests, and the wood they provide are vital in the fight against climate change. Timber is an abundant renewable resource in New Zealand.
Te Waonui Forest Retreat utilises sustainable design features with timber to the fore, and the result provides guests with a relaxing 100% New Zealand experience.