2025 New Zealand Architecture Awards Winner
Punangairi Visitor Centre
The Punangairi Visitor Centre sits with sensitivity and harmony within its stunning landscape at Punakaiki on the West Coast while also enhancing local identity and visibility. Elevated on pile foundations, the building is nestled within the site’s undulating contours. Timber posts, used both structurally and decoratively, echo the rhythm of surrounding nīkau palm groves. The scalloped floor plan responds to an existing lawn, presenting a generous foreground while delicately pulling the building back from the busy road. A gently sloping green roof responds to the surrounding tree canopy, while also assisting in the management of heavy rainfall. Inside, lofty light-filled spaces generously connect the building with its surroundings. This sustainable visitor centre not only supports regenerative tourism but also delivers lasting benefits to the local community and economy.
- Practice
- Sheppard & Rout Architects Ltd
- Category
- Public Architecture
- Location
- Nelson/Marlborough
