The GreenAir team, alongside Ignite Architects, landscape architects Boffa Miskell, construction leaders NZ Strong Group, and engineers Beca, weaved a living layer into the hotel’s architecture, integrating a variety of biophilic elements, each contributing uniquely to the hotel’s sensory and environmental transformation.

Simon Chamberlain, Managing Director of GreenAir, says the Hotel Grand Chancellor is a New Zealand representation of a trend in hotels globally. A trend to change a tired approach to greenery; no longer viewing it as a side thought but as an integral element to good design with benefits.

“We are seeing a change for the better. Hoteliers are moving away from manicured gardens and sterile lobbies, instead they are embracing the wild side of nature and its native elements. Working on the Hotel Grand Chancellor was an incredible opportunity to put into place some of the leading ideas and innovations in the study of Biophilic Design. Every aspect of the hotel’s design and atmosphere has been influenced by the natural world and embraces our native flora. From an incredible, one-of-a kind green wall, to the lush vertical greenery on the exterior, every aspect considers how can we use the practice of Biophilic Design to ensure guests are calm, comfortable and connected to nature. In addition, by building with nature, we address urban and climate challenges, while creating healthier spaces for living, working and visiting.”

Here’s a few of our favourite Biophilic Design moments at the Hotel Grand Chancellor:

• Tensile Green Facade: A striking vertical garden on the western façade. It softens the urban edge, introduces seasonal variation, and contributes to Auckland’s biodiversity. A living piece of art.

• Lush Courtyard Living Wall: A verdant centrepiece that grounds the inner courtyard in calming greenery, creating a natural gathering point for guests.

• Circular Wall Planters and Floor-Standing Greenery: Throughout the interiors, plants were positioned with intent, highlighting movement paths, softening hard surfaces, and improving indoor air quality.

• Wild moments: Every touchpoint, from planter design to plant selection, was curated to reflect both biophilic principles and to embrace a more unclipped, unstructured approach to green spaces.

Visit the Hotel Grand Chancellor for a drink in the lobby and you will see for yourself, the elements of wild and intrigue scattered up high and low. It’s a green escape with a martini.

The Hotel Grand Chancellor is located at 80 Wellesley Street West, Auckland Central.