Waterfront Hotel Competition | Auckland

How can architecture provide an environment of interconnection with the local Wynyard Quarter while still operating within the global network of travel and the ‘Intercontinental’ chain?

The double courtyard form of the hotel – one courtyard surrounding a ‘declaimed basin' and the other, a stepped entry atrium – is designed to optimize the prime waterfront experience of views, natural light reflecting off water and cooling sea breezes.

In this way, we proposed a 'Janus building' described by the Smithsons as one that faces more than one set of circumstances and which varies its character in relation to these. Pursuing this idea, we proposed four differing sides, each of which generates an alternative edge section in response to its adjacent condition. This in turn generates subtle variations in the character, layout and detail of each hotel room, drawn from the adjacent environment.

The meeting of land and water as much as anything makes these environments of interconnection –that Maori call nga akau - seem more fervent, more generous even spiritual.

Park, G. (2006). Theatre country: essays on landscape & whenua. Wellington, N.Z.: Victoria University Press.