Set on Cuba Street, in an early 1900s Edwardian building named The Peoples Palace (originally opened by the Salvation Army to house people who were down and out). Our client’s brief was to be bold, whimsical, and colourful and to intrigue you. (Oh and no white in the common areas!) Also, emphasise the heritage features while also bringing new life and new design to something that had not seen a lot of love in a long time. The 4-star 116-room hotel is stage one of a two-part story, with stage two, the refurbishment of the 2002 tower block into 5-star guest rooms being completed by the end of 2021. The common spaces are created to service both hotel wings.

The hotel is curated around the idea of Lady Naumi a literary bohemian character (a fanciful person) and her traveling merchant sailor husband who call the Peoples Palace home. Lady Naumi captures the zeitgeist spirit, thought and feeling of the Edwardian era, bohemian culture of Cuba St, and the lifestyle surrounding music, art, literary and spiritual pursuits. The hotel feels like her home of Wunderkammer collections. We have transformed the 4 storeyed, 116 room property into a visual feast for the senses, enthralling guests with eclectic spaces inspired from seafaring, the literary world, and a story of enduring love! While the compact heritage Guestrooms ranging from 13m2 – 17m2 are a welcome retreat.

Upon entry, maximalism takes over! A wondrous Edwardian garden full of lush florals adorns reception floors, walls & ceiling. Inside the lounge bar, you are immersed in the world of Wunderkammer. Collected curiosities line the walls, a cosy exotic space. The ‘Parlour’ cues Edwardian heritage. Taking cues from light-filled Parisian reception rooms, boundaries are crossed with colour & pattern, a space to relax. Private Dining, a room of bold contrast, and a courageous & spirited sanctuary within the restaurant. Corridors inspired by Lady Naumi’s journeys on the Silk Road. Each level has a tonal gradient of one colour. ⁠Mimicking hue changes at sunset & sunrise.⁠

Corian Witch Hazel was used on the bar to create a warm luminescent atmosphere at the focal point of the space. As we had successfully used this at Naumi Auckland, we knew it was a tried, tested and timeless material option.

The Naumi Studio Wellington layout has been flipped on its head where guests are greeted by the bar in their first instance, then continuing onto the reception, making the glowing bar a pivotal anchor to the guests experience.