Opening of Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel delivers fusion of cultural and high-end design
The 311-room hotel at Auckland International Airport is operated by hotel group Accor Pacific.
Ground-floor interiors are by project architects Warren and Mahoney.
The cave-like structure in the cafe references the natural arch of Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel.
The reception area for hotel guests.
Space Studio was responsible for upper-floor interiors.
Digital design lead at Warren and Mahoney Matt Le Grice designed the geometric structure enveloping the piloti.
After four years in construction, Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel was officially opened in December, offering travellers and visitors five-star hospitality and accommodation just 100 metres from the international terminal at Auckland Airport.
Several hundred guests attended a karakia for the opening of the hotel, led by Kīngi Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII, mana whenua and leaders of Waikato-Tainui, and it was Kīngi Tuheitia who gifted the name ‘Te Arikinui’ to the hotel, meaning ‘Supreme Ariki’ or ‘Supreme Paramount Chief’.
The 311-room hotel is a 50:50 joint venture between Tainui Group Holdings (TGH) and Auckland Airport and chair of the executive committee of Waikato-Tainui, Tukoroirangi Morgan, said the finished result clearly expresses the significance of this location to the iwi of Tainui waka.
“Everything from the chiefly name of this hotel to its three-pointed star shape and the unique cultural designs express the mauri (essence) of this important site for Waikato,” said Morgan.
Auckland Airport CEO, Carrie Hurihanganui, said the hotel is a distinctive new marker at the international gateway to Aotearoa New Zealand and it will support the aviation precinct as it connects travel, employment opportunities and business.
“The project is one part of Auckland Airport’s once-in-a-generation redevelopment programme, set to transform the traveller experience at the airport precinct over the next decade, from a new integrated terminal, transport centre, and smart luggage systems to premium shopping.”
Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel will be operated by hotel group Accor Pacific, employing approximately 200 people across guest care, food and beverage, cleaning and concierge when the hotel is operating at full capacity.
Designed by Warren and Mahoney, Te Arikinui Pullman complements the practice’s previous work on the Novotel Auckland Airport hotel situated some 50 metres to the east.
Lead architect Jonathan Hewlett says both hotels are shaped by the concept of ‘sea to sky’, which references the journey by the people of Tainui waka following their arrival at Manukau Harbour around 1350.
“The hotel responds to the demand from travellers seeking authentic, personalised experiences that reflect the local culture,” says Hewlett. “Its unique design is a tribute to key geographic sites of significance associated with the journey of Tainui waka, while materiality and form throughout reference the cultural and historical wealth of Aotearoa and draw inspiration from the local environment.”
Kīngitanga, celestial voyages, stories of great taniwha and references to ancient and precious korowai are the inspiration for cultural design patterns created for the hotel. Designed by Renata Te Wiata (Tūrangawaewae Marae), the patterns feature throughout the hotel in a range of materials, including aluminium, stone, wall fabric, glass and timber.
Interior spaces were designed by both Warren and Mahoney and Space Studio, the latter responsible for the guest rooms, level nine’s Te Kaahu restaurant, bar, executive club and meeting rooms.
Hewlett points out that the hotel incorporates a number of sustainability features such as a high-performance ‘thermal envelope’ to reduce energy demands, energy efficient lighting, use of FSC-certified timber throughout and recycled materials where these can be seamlessly integrated.
