The new Novotel, 12-level building with 263 rooms, has been built within the existing airport. A stunning 10 m high living wall has been installed in the ground floor reception area. The brief for Novotel's new hotel at Auckland Airport, called for a significant new landmark with an unmistakably New Zealand identity. The project uses natural materials, sculptured forms, and an insight to the essential qualities of New Zealand. This feeling is reinforced by a mini landscape of volcanic basalt paved surfaces contrasted with lush indigenous coastal flora. Essential is the principle of sustainability, with materials and technologies chosen for their low impact on the clean, green environment that inspired the design. The interior makes use of a variety of motifs, referencing both traditional designs and Zealand's abundant native flora and fauna.