Location: Auckland, New Zealand.

Architect: Material Creative and Muir Design Solutions.

The Naumi Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand was created from an existing hotel that was in poor condition. The clients wanted a unique boutique hotel that embodied the Naumi brand’s ideals of being playful, unexpected, sexy, youthful, and considered. The hotel was designed to be a truly exhilarating experience and a feast for all senses, with no white. The design was inspired by the Tui, a native bird to New Zealand, and its rich deep colors. The hotel boasts 193 rooms, including King, Queen Doubles, Blush Rooms, and 2 Suites, all with unique designs. The common areas were meticulously considered and re-fitted, including the reception, dining, bar, buffet, lounge, conference rooms, gym, corridors, and wayfinding. The hotel had many challenges, including internal rebuilds, re-roofing, new services, and upgrading fire ratings, all while the hotel continued trading throughout the entire build process. The two suites, Ziggy and Dotty, are features of their own, each with a personality inspired by Missoni and Yayoi Kusama. The hotel features a gallery of works by commissioned artists, including Belynda Henry, Judi Bagust, and Ny Art Dept. Since reopening the hotel as Naumi, significant gains have been shown on all key financial measurements and feedback metrics. Guest feedback is now 95% positive, compared to 30% under its previous brand, room rates have increased 42%, and occupancy is sitting above 90%.

Photo credit: Sam Hartnett, Michelle Weir.