This year marks Inzide’s 11th year of partnership with the Interior Awards, having come on board from the start as a founding sponsor. We asked the team to share with us some of their favourite interiors, as well as some thoughts about the Awards programme.

Steve, tell us about one of the previous winners of the Interior Awards that resonated with you and why?

Steve: I need to go back to the 2018 Awards and Māori TV by Andy and the team at RCG. I’m a firm believer in building from the inside out and the space meeting the needs of the people working within. The quote by Rick Pearson sums it up perfectly: “Drawing on the whakataukī (proverb) ‘He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people’.” Adding to the people-first design principle was the use of carefully crafted materials and artworks and the sophisticated organisation of the interiors with images of navigation tools. When I walked through this building, I quickly realised that this space created a sense of belonging and identity. Hence it is a favourite and will always remain a favourite. The fact that custom Interface carpet was used throughout just adds to the delight I have for this building.

Bianca, is there a favourite hospitality spot, either here or overseas, that you always recommend?

Bianca: Rakino Island is an absolute gem of an island in the Hauraki Gulf and, in Woody Bay, there is a well-guarded secret that far more people need to know about. There is a boutique pizzeria that serves up the best wood-fired pizzas you will ever eat. It’s an absolute treat to visit this pristine island, sit back on the beach and watch the sunset while indulging. An absolute quintessential Kiwi experience. Alf, the owner, started up the Woody Bay Pizzeria in 2020 and runs it with flexible opening hours over the summer season so it’s very much a matter of ‘if your lucky enough’, which makes it all the better.

Jarrod, tell us what you have enjoyed most about being a sponsor of the Interior Awards?

Jarrod: I’m delighted that Inzide has been a sponsor since the inception of the Interior Awards. Over the years, we’ve been witness to the competition getting fiercer. For some years now, we’ve been seeing projects acknowledged at the finalist level which are all more than deserving of the award in which they are in the running for. I certainly don’t envy any of the judges. I must add that it’s been fantastic to see sustainability become part of the judging considerations. The more we do in this space as an industry, the better. Architects and designers are in a unique position to influence change by well-considered materials selection at the very basic level. As an industry, we need to be constantly pushing the boundaries, asking for better solutions from suppliers and rewarding those that are making better choices. It’s great to see that happening.

From the brands they supply to the New Zealand market, to the processes they follow, Inzide are committed to maintaining and improving their standards. They strongly believe in the circular economy and practice this ethos through Interface’s ReEntry recycling scheme in Australia, among other sustainable initiatives such as Toitu’s carbon zero programme.

In 25 years of supplying sustainable flooring solutions, Inzide have achieved (as at 31 March, 2021):
• 461 tonnes of carpet tile recycled/re-used
• 5,707 tonnes of carbon offset
• 332 tonnes of carbon mitigated
• 344,770 litres of fuel saved by using a Hybrid/PHEV car fleet

It all starts with local companies investing in New Zealand’s economy and biosphere to make a real difference to our world.