This adaptive reuse of what started life as a 1970s office block offers visitors to Tāmaki Makaurau a gateway position overlooking the Waitematā Harbour and a calming retreat connected to the busy Commercial Bay precinct. Maximising the original building's floor height and fully embracing its font row harbour views, the interior of the InterContinental balances luxury and space with an intimate connection to the bustling waterfront landscape. The disciplined background palette is imbued with textual richness from dark timber and volcanic references that further speak to the hotel's context. Works by New Zealand artists share stories of the site's cultural significance and ground guests in the locality.