InterContinental Auckland
As guests pass beneath the striking gold facade of the new InterContinental Auckland, they encounter a foyer of dark timber and textured stone that echoes the raw elements of New Zealand’s natural landscape.
This is the work of architecture firm Warren and Mahoney with a design that incorporates luxurious materials to bring the five-star harbourside hotel to life. The warm, organic palette grounds visitors while drawing their attention to – and mirroring – the beauty of the harbour and volcanic terrain beyond the windows.
The design of the 139-key property, completed in 2023, is a celebration of New Zealand and Māori craftsmanship and aesthetics. Stand-out pieces by Māori artists – including Fiona Pardington – adorn the walls, and Warren and Mahoney worked with local companies – including Ambitec – to bring its vision for the hotel to life.
Ambitec’s bespoke polished plaster finishes were key to the design’s success. Its polished plaster artisans collaborated with Warren and Mahoney to develop and tailor the finishes found throughout the hotel – including in the lobby, bathrooms and luxury upper-floor suites – bringing an essential layer of texture and colour to the immersive design.
Visitors first encounter Ambitec’s distinctive work in the lobby, where a 30-metre-long, rammed-earth-inspired wall guides them into the in-house Middle Eastern- and Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, Advieh. Tailor-made using various shades of Ambitec’s pitted SuaveStone finish to achieve a deep earthy colour, the surface features soft layers to mimic the organic appearance of a rammed-earth wall.
SuaveStone combines clay and sand, resulting in a stone-like appeal, which intrinsically links the project to Auckland’s terrain. Ambitec provided the architect with full prototypes to give a complete picture of the stratifications and hone an application technique to achieve the full effect in situ.
In the upper-level presidential, king and one-bedroom suites, Ambitec developed a custom, two-tone mauve finish for the ceilings and walls. This polished plaster, from the Suave line, is subtle in colour but brings texture and dynamism to the minimalist rooms, enhancing the simple oak joinery and art. Ambitec’s tailored solutions enabled the installation team to work around the complexities of recessed lights and bulkheads to achieve the desired impact.
This commitment to evocative design extended to the lobby bathrooms, where Ambitec worked with Warren and Mahoney to customise its SuaveCrete finish in the Beautiful Black and Rich Coffee colourways. This built a moody ambience in the recessed amenities rooms, with the textural finish emphasised by intimate lighting.
Ambitec’s work on the InterContinental Auckland exemplifies the New Zealand company’s considered approach to interiors and design, as well as the potential for collaboration with the architecture and design community to develop exceptional interiors that tell a story.
Architecture by Warren and Mahoney. Interior design by Warren and Mahoney with Technē. Build by LT McGuinness. Development by Precinct Properties. Plaster by Ambitec.
