Te Rau Karamu Marae, Massey University by Te Kāhoi Toi and Athfield Architects, Supreme and Education winner 2022.

Steve Aschebrock: Te Rau Karuma serves as a retreat from urban life, a centre point to reconnect with Maori culture and heritage within the Massey University Wellington Campus.

Here the flooring plays a significant visual role as a forest floor and is the foundation for the Whare Nui. This Biophilic inspired carpet tile collection (Urban Retreat) from Interface resembles the way nature takes over the urban landscape when given the opportunity, returning it to its natural form. The merging of stone and concrete textures with that of moss, grass and ivy creates a symbolic visual connection between nature and culture, both modern and traditional. Urban Retreat from our perspective both inspires and is inspired through its use at Te Rau Karumu and stands out for this reason.

Maori TV by RCG, winner Workplace over 1,000sqm Award 2018

Steve Aschebrock: The brief for the interiors was to weave Maori Television into the building fabric, based on Te aho tapu – the sacred thread. The company’s DNA and mauri were to be blended into the new premises and combined with the latest technology within the built environment. 
This brief took on a life of its own with the Interface flooring chosen.  The custom colours, the use of old fishing net yarns, the ability to recycle the carpet tile out of Maori TV and out of New Zealand at the end of its life, and the biophilic texturing. It all came together to bring the Interface brand to life with its promise of a sustainable future and hence being multi-generational in its thinking.  RCG nailed the brief and allowed our flooring to weave a tale that talked within the building – hence why Maori TV stands out.

Building 201 Auckland University by Jasmax, finalist Education Award 2024

Steve Aschebrock: The adaptive reuse of the University of Auckland’s B201 building stands as a beacon of sustainable design and innovation, setting a new standard (6 Green Star 2024) for smart architecture in New Zealand. At the heart of this achievement was the absolute commitment to low-carbon design principles and innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact. Following on from the NZ Stats building in Wellington (also Jasmax), this was our second major installation of Interface’s CQuest Bio-backed Interface Carpet tile – Interface’s negative carbon-backed carpet tile. The colours and textures including custom colours mixed with standard carpet tile options blended seamlessly and brought colour and vibrancy to the space. However, it is the use of our most sustainable carpet tile (negative carbon backing, recycled fishing net yarns, recyclable at the end of its life and MFE certified) and biophilic dye-batch mergeable design (only 1% waste on installation) is why it stands out so strongly. Building 201 is a sustainability beacon on the architectural landscape in so many ways including for us at Inzide.

Inzide was asked to select a product from its portfolio that the design industry should know more about. The Inzide team selected Marmoleum by Forbo, an attractive resilient surface finish suitable for floors, walls and furniture. Made from up to 98% natural raw materials, it not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances indoor spaces by promoting a tactile and visually appealing link to the natural world. By resisting microbial growth and being free from phthalates, all plastics and allergens, it also ensures a wholesome indoor atmosphere.

By selecting Marmoleum, designers are making an eco-conscious choice that embraces biophilic design, creating interiors that resonate with the human need for connection to nature.