Waikereru Welcome Shelter

Charred timber cabins nestled in golden tussock grass beneath a striking cantilevered canopy roof

An innovative environmental education space designed, constructed and operated by a group of passionate volunteers.

Distant view of the dark-clad shelter tucked into a lush native forest valley
Charred timber cabins nestled in golden tussock grass beneath a striking cantilevered canopy roof
Distant view of the dark-clad shelter tucked into a lush native forest valley
Aerial vista of the tiny shelter perched on a hillside amid rolling New Zealand farmland
Tiny black cabin barely visible against a dramatic backdrop of forested hills and grassland
Angular black-stained cabin with red trim framed by a soaring steel-and-fabric sun canopy

The project was led by Pac director Sarosh Mulla, who was responsible for the architecture of the buildings, the sponsorship and, in a hands-on-tools role, the leadership of an 88-strong volunteer building team.

Charred cedar cabins connected by red-timber decking beneath a sweeping cantilevered roof
Close-up of the shelter's dark vertical cladding and red circular safety marker
trees and hills from the red-striped balcony deck

The shelter consists of an outdoor classroom with a large floating roof over three elegant wooden ‘boxes’ that are used for storage, a composting toilet, water and a lookout tower.

a cozy plywood-lined cabin with a bright red sliding door open
the shelter's expansive floating canopy on a sunny afternoon
Bright plywood interior with colorful A-frame stools arranged around a glass dining table
Timber ladder leads up through a skylight hatch in a warm plywood-lined loft room
handcrafted wooden ladder inside the cabin's sunlit loft
Golden-hour glow spills from the cabin's windows as dusk settles over the tussock field
Sunlit plywood interior of the Welcome Shelter featuring a memorial plaque and vintage pulley wheel
Open red doors reveal a cozy shelving nook stacked with colourful storage crates
Native flowering shrub climbs a charred timber wall beside a deep-set red window frame
Close-up of the shelter's black board-and-batten cladding framing a rust-red window
Red barn-style doors thrown open beneath a soaring steel canopy roof at Waikereru
Angled view of the shelter's black timber volume with its bold red door and native bird emblem
Low sun catches the charred cladding and red trim of the shelter's angular form
Distant view of the dark timber shelter tucked into dense native bush on a hillside

Waikereru Welcome Shelter

Awards

NZIA National New Zealand Architecture Award Winner – Small Project Architecture

NZIA Hawkes Bay/ Gisborne Architecture Award Winner – Public Architecture

Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards - Gold Pin in the Spatial (Public and Institutional) Category

Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards - Bronze Award in the Public Good Category

Urbis Magazine Best New Zealand Public Space

AMP National Scholarship Award - Awarded to Sarosh Mulla

← Back to Projects

The Longbush Ecosanctuary Welcome Shelter is an innovative environmental education space designed, constructed and operated by a group of passionate volunteers with the support of local businesses and charitable organisations. 

 

The project was led by Pac Studio director Sarosh Mulla, who was responsible for the architecture of the buildings, the sponsorship and, in a hands-on-tools role, the leading of the 88-strong volunteer building team that realised the project. 

 

The shelter consists of an outdoor classroom with a large floating roof over three elegant wooden ‘boxes’ that are used for storage, a composting toilet, water and a lookout tower. Small terraces and planting boxes create a space in the landscape to welcome visitors, and to explore different aspects of Longbush and its rare and endangered species of plants and animals. 

 

Access to the shelter is free of charge for all visitors and the project aims to promote active stewardship of our natural environment. Rather than simply viewing the landscape, visitors are encouraged to take part in the   environmental restoration occurring at the ecosanctuary through the various programs offered.

← Back to Projects
Pac Studio
Architecture
Interior Design
Spatial Strategy
+64 9 973 5050
hello@pacstudio.nz
1 Bowen Avenue
Auckland 1010
PO Box 68060
Auckland 1141

© Pac Studio

All Rights Reserved

Back to top ↑