Punangairi is a stunning visitor centre that showcases the best of New Zealand to the world. Thoughtfully placed within one of the most beautiful and sensitive natural environments in the West Coast region. The architecture responds to its surroundings, weaving through the existing nīkau and natural landforms, touching the ground lightly and recessing gently into the landscape. A lush green roof and a perimeter of vertical timber poles help the building blend into the environment, softening its form and reducing visual impact among the native bush and rugged cliffside of Dolomite Point.

The materials palette and interior finishes were carefully curated to reinforce this sensitive approach, with flooring playing a central role in creating a cohesive visual and tactile experience throughout the centre. Forbo Allura Flex Luxury Vinyl Tiles in Natural Giant Oak was selected for its warm timber visual, which complements the building’s structural timber elements and brings a natural, grounded feel to the interior. This high performance, LVT offers the texture of real wood with the added benefits of exceptional dimensional stability and easy maintenance, making it ideal for high-traffic public areas. Featuring second generation Flex technology and constructed from only functional layers, Allura Flex sets a new standard in durability, strength, and long-term performance.

Forbo Marmoleum in Slate Grey was chosen for its environmental credentials and understated elegance and features prominently in the café area of the national park visitor centre. Made from 98% natural raw materials, Marmoleum is carbon-neutral from cradle to gate, making it an ideal fit for a building so deeply rooted in environmental stewardship. In the café, the Slate Grey tone offers a calm, earthy presence that grounds the space, complementing the surrounding timber finishes while enhancing indoor air quality. Its natural composition and resilient surface provide a practical, sustainable flooring solution that supports both the functional and aesthetic goals of the project.

Replacing a much smaller and outdated DOC facility, the new centre was sited carefully on an existing lawn to avoid disturbing untouched bush, with a connected exhibition building located in a nearby clearing. Inside, Interface’s Urban Retreat UR101 carpet tiles in Stone/Ivy and Ash/Ivy are used extensively to mirror the textures and colours of the forest floor, echoing the mossy greens and filtered light of the surrounding bush. These tiles not only contribute to biophilic design but also offer excellent acoustic performance, creating a quiet, welcoming space for visitors and staff alike. Their GlasBac backing, a durable vinyl composite reinforced with a fibreglass scrim, ensures the tiles maintain dimensional stability, staying flat and secure even in high-traffic or temperature variable environments.

The centre’s proximity to the coastal cliffs and oceanfront is reflected in the widespread use of Interface Net Effect B602 tiles in Driftwood and Caspian, which bring a soft coastal rhythm to the interior. Their gentle brown and blue-grey tones blend naturally with the timber detailing and vertical wood panelling that wraps the exterior, reinforcing the project’s strong visual connection to place.

Owned and operated by Ngāti Waewae, Punangairi is more than just a visitor centre, it represents a place of connection, learning, and respect for both people and land. Developed through the Provincial Growth Fund as part of a broader initiative to support West Coast tourism, the project also played a major role in upskilling the local workforce. A large proportion of the build team came from the region, with long-term employment outcomes already being realised. Even the green roof was grown and assembled nearby before being carefully installed by local workers.

The centre’s low-impact design and commitment to sustainability align closely with Inzide’s values, where environmental responsibility, high-performance materials, and community collaboration are at the heart of every project.