Scenic Hotel Group's newest hotel, the luxurious five star Te Waonui Forest Retreat, has collected a prestigious architecture award in recognition of its unique design. Judges in the Canterbury Architecture Awards (run by the New Zealand Institute of Architects) said "the thought provoking complex" has raised the standard of tourist accommodation on the West Coast".

The $25 million dollar boutique hotel is located on the outskirts of Franz Josef and has been designed to the highest levels of environmental sustainable design. Architects, Dalman Architecture Ltd, have also designed the building to meld into its native forest surroundings and to give guests a real sense of being part of the West Coast environment.

"It surprises in the way it forces customers to engage the smell, dampness and density of the rainforest setting," commented judges. "The architecture is inwardly focused as the re-vegetation will quickly engulf the exterior, and incorporates some brave architectural gestures." Richard Dalman, Managing Director of Dalman Architecture, said the company was very proud of the award which reflected the work of many staff on what was a very special project.

"It is a bit unusual for new hotels to win architecture awards as many are designed to a set formula," he says.

"This hotel is different in that we set ourselves the goal of seamlessly integrating it into the very special bush environment from the beginning and decisions were made around this goal."

The Scenic Hotel Group is equally delighted with the award. Brendan Taylor, Managing Director, said it has been a unique project for the company, which had its origins in Franz Josef 28 years ago when founders Earl Hagaman and the late Ralph Brown purchased their very first hotel. "With our history and six other properties in the region, this part of the country has special meaning for us," he says.

"It has been nine years since the conception of Te Waonui Forest Retreat and we have gone to an enormous effort to get the detail and finished product just right to ensure that the hotel delivers a unique experience and becomes a destination in itself."

The hotel has been constructed largely from stained rough sawn cedar and plywood (all renewable resources and from environmental certified sources) with as much use as possible of local products such as any concrete aggregates and hard fill sourced from the nearby Waiho River. The design also utilises as much natural light, heating and ventilation as possible with computerised control and monitoring of mechanical systems optimising energy management.

During the building process there was minimal disruption to the surrounding native forest with a large stand of bush preserved in a central courtyard. The four guest wings surround the courtyard treating guests to views of the natural vegetation with trees of up to 20 metres in height and the sounds of local birdlife from every room. The interior design by Dalman Architecture also takes its inspirations from the local region featuring possum fur cushions, custom made wool carpets, natural fabrics, local art, and intriguing special effects such as the glow worm lighting in the downstairs Frond Bar.