| 79 ARCHITECTURE Warren & Mahoney Proud to partner with Warren & Mahoney, delivering sustainable, award-winning projects across New Zealand. 0800 334 567 | www.gartshore.co.nz T T Kelly Deeks New approach to visitor centres The project challenged the team to rethink the conventional approach to visitor centre design. Photo: Thomas Seear-Budd. A circular approach to visitor centre design that eliminates unnecessary waste and extends the life of fit-out materials has earned Warren and Mahoney a finalist placing in the 2026 WasteMINZ and Australian Local Government Association Awards for Excellence. The Auckland-based practice has been recognised in the Excellence in Reuse, Repair and Repurposing category for its work on iSite Aotearoa: Gateway to Our Place, a national redesign programme that is reshaping how New Zealand’s visitor information centres are developed and operated. The project was delivered as part of a threeyear programme led by Tourism New Zealand and focused on creating a nationally consistent network while allowing each location to reflect its own identity, people, and place. Rather than relying on traditional retail style fit-outs that are often removed and discarded after a relatively short lifespan, the new system is built around a modular framework that can be reconfigured, repaired, reused, and adapted as needs change. Warren and Mahoney principal Gareth Huston says the project challenged the team to rethink the conventional approach to visitor centre design. “Most retail environments are fitted out with fixed elements that eventually end up in landfill when layouts change or branding evolves,” Gareth says. “We wanted to create a system that could adapt over time. The displays, shelving, brochure holders, retail components, and information features can all be moved, rearranged, or repurposed without creating waste.” The design philosophy extended across the entire project. Existing iSite buildings were retained wherever possible, avoiding demolition and reducing the environmental impact of upgrades. Flooring, lighting, and other building elements were only replaced when necessary. Natural and durable materials including pine plywood, pegboard, and low impact finishes were selected throughout the fit-outs. Custom sales counters incorporated saveBOARD products manufactured using recycled materials, including surplus iSite brochures that would otherwise have been discarded. The modular framework allows individual operators across the national network to customise their spaces to suit local tourism “We wanted to create a system that could adapt over time. The displays, shelving, brochure holders, retail components, and information features can all be moved, rearranged, or repurposed without creating waste.” offerings, whether displaying retail products, regional information, maps, digital content, or community resources. Gareth says sustainability was embedded from the earliest stages of the project rather than being considered later in the design process. “Every project we undertake begins with sustainability discussions, shaped by our client’s aspirations, and what is achievable within budget. “We establish environmental goals right at the start and design around those outcomes.” That approach was supported by Warren and Mahoney’s dedicated sustainability specialists, including team members who assessed embodied carbon and material selection throughout the programme. A key contributor to the delivery was Tauranga-based Gartshore Group, which manufactured, supplied, and installed the fit-outs across the North Island iSite network. Gareth says Gartshore Group played an important role in bringing the concept to life. “They delivered the fit-outs efficiently, on time, and within budget, while maintaining a high standard of workmanship throughout the programme.” The finalist recognition highlights growing industry interest in circular design principles and demonstrates how public infrastructure can reduce waste while improving functionality. For Warren and Mahoney, the project may be smaller than some of the firm’s large-scale developments, but Gareth says it clearly demonstrates how thoughtful design can deliver meaningful environmental outcomes while creating welcoming spaces that connect visitors with the regions they explore.
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