Material Focus: Coronet Ridge Resort
The award-winning Coronet Ridge Resort features Warwick Fabrics extensively. The Library Bar banquette is in Warwick Felix Caper.
The new hotel reception: sofa is in Warwick Ozark Tahini; wall panelling is in Warwick Benito Java.
Partner Content: Architect Mitch McKenzie discusses Coronet Ridge Resort, G2 Studio’s latest luxury boutique hotel project in Queenstown.
How did your association with hotel investors, New Bay Group, come about?
Mitch McKenzie (MM): As hotel architects and designers, we’re in touch with real estate agents who focus on this sector, regularly doing massing and capacity studies for investors. We first met New Bay Group’s Roger Khoo shortly before the first Covid-19 lockdown and completed a study for them on another site as we adapted to remote work. When New Bay bought the then Nugget Point Hotel, we continued working with them on this new project.
What does it take to stand out in the competitive Queenstown hotel and hospitality market?
MM: G2 Studio has worked on hotel and leisure projects for more than 20 international hotel brands across four continents, with our Auckland team completing 20 of these projects in New Zealand. What makes us different is our core focus on this market and the depth of understanding we’ve gained; we believe this comes through in our work. Queenstown has many high-turnover, high-density hotels, which prioritise guest numbers over guest experience. While these hotels serve a purpose, we wanted to create something different with the Coronet Ridge Resort – a unique guest experience, away from the busy town centre, where guests can relax and unwind in the amazing natural surroundings.
Tell us about the redevelopment.
MM: A number of challenges required detailed architectural design to be developed cohesively with the interior architecture and interior design; these challenges regularly strained the project budget and often required creative solutions. Furnz has a strong reputation for providing cost-effective interior procurement solutions by leveraging its substantial offshore network of partners and suppliers. We worked in a highly collaborative manner with the Furnz team from the end of developed design onwards, to deliver a result as near as possible to our desired design intent, within an acceptable budget for the owner. Locally appropriate textures, colours and materials were achieved by incorporating New Zealand-sourced fabrics and finishes.
How were Warwick Fabrics incorporated into the interior spaces?
MM: We wanted Coronet Ridge Resort to be a refined sanctuary, set in a peaceful alpine landscape: to blend modern luxury with sustainability, inviting guests to relax and reconnect with nature through all seasons; to create a place “where luxury meets nature’s embrace”. Humanistic design strategies informed every decision — considering how light and colour affect mood, how sound changes your energy and how materials feel to the touch. From weaving in references to alluvial rivers to embracing the harsh Central Otago landscapes, Warwick Fabrics provided the perfect mix of natural colours and textures to help us achieve our goals. Warwick Fabrics were used in the large banquette seats, central to the hotel restaurant, in the smaller, more private booth seating in the library bar and for much of the feature lounge seating in the hotel reception. Their Weave wool throws and cushions were also used throughout.
See more in the Material Focus series, including inspiring interiors: The Helier by Peddlethorp, Waka Kotahi NZTA by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott, Picnicka by CTRL Space, Arvida by Stack Interiors, Gulf Rise by Urban Lounge, and more, here.
About G2 Studio
G2 Studio has recently completed an evolution of its practice structure, transitioning into two closely aligned studios. This strategic change reflects the individual passions and distinct areas of focus of the firm’s two directors, while preserving the shared values and foundations of the practice. GCA Studio, led by Graham Crust, continues to operate from the McKelvie Street office in Auckland. The studio maintains a strong focus on architecture and interior design, with a well-established specialisation in hotel and leisure-related projects. G2A Studio, led by Graham Applin, is pursuing its own direction and areas of interest, building on the collective
experience and shared heritage of G2 Studio.
This evolution supports a clearer strategic focus for each studio while ensuring continuity, professional excellence, and ongoing commitment to clients and collaborators
