The Longbush Ecosanctuary Welcome Shelter has gone from an innovative, but distant, vision to become a very important piece of public architecture within New Zealand.

The NZIA commented: “Clustered forms loosely arranged beneath a large canopy offer a casual and engaging shelter that provides respite, education and, most importantly, delight.”

The Welcome Shelter is clad in Tundra in vertical shiplap, a naturally durable heart Douglas fir timber cladding – donated by Abodo Wood. Tundra provides a unique natural skin, and its low carbon, preservative-free state is a perfect fit for this ecosanctuary.

“There is a special level of ingenuity at work in this environmental education space: carefully positioned modules enable well-considered viewshafts; a ladder gives access to a rooftop platform with viewing windows; and fold-down walls and bird-nest niches elevate the shelter above the status of an abstract architectural response.

“The manifestation of PhD research as built form has resulted in a legacy that the architects, owners and the region can be immensely proud of. The jury commends the architect’s passionate personal commitment and dedication to a project full of heart and soul.” continue the NZIA.

Our warmest congratulations to Sarosh Mulla and the team at Pac Studio for this well-deserved award.

Read more about the Longbush Ecosanctuary here