Paparoa Visitor Centre.

A Green Roof and Natural Integration

Designed by Sheppard & Rout Architects, the Paparoa Visitor Centre is built to integrate naturally with the surrounding environment. A green roof planted with native flora and a footprint carefully shaped to protect existing nīkau palms reflect a strong commitment to low-impact construction and sustainable land use

Cultural Significance and Community Engagement

Incorporating Māori cultural storytelling was central to the project. The Sheppard and Rout design team worked closely with Ngāti Waewae to embed local narratives, symbols, and artworks throughout the space. This collaboration ensures the Visitor Centre is not just a building, but a living expression of the region’s cultural identity.

Refined Materiality and Spatial Rhythm

Inside the Centre, our timber Click-on Battens are a key feature of the ceiling design, extending across the sprawling interior to create a consistent and refined visual rhythm. The warm tones and natural texture of the timber contribute to a clean, cohesive finish that complements the building’s broader material palette.

Explore our Click-on Batten range

Sustainable Material Selection

The use of locally appropriate, responsibly sourced hardwood supports the project’s carbon-conscious design goals, contributing toward its ambitions for double carbon-zero certification.

Enhancing New Zealand’s West Coast with Sustainable Architecture

The Dolomite Point Redevelopment Project sets a benchmark for sustainable tourism infrastructure in New Zealand. Through thoughtful integration of natural materials, green building strategies, and meaningful indigenous collaboration, the project offers a blueprint for public architecture that honours both people and place.

Product: Click-on Battens
Materials: Timber
Applications: Feature Ceilings
Sectors: Cultural, Government
Architect: Sheppard and Rout
Builder: Naylor Love
Location: Punakaiki, New Zealand
Completion: 2024
Photographer: Jason Mann