Client : Rings Scenic Tours Ltd
Building Type : Commercial - Hospitality/Tourism
Floor Area : 240m2
Design : 8 months approx
Construction : 5 months approx
Years before establishing Tilt Architecture, Gavin spent three years working as a Set Designer on the Hobbit Films, and one of the first movie sets he helped to develop was the permanent film set at Hobbiton, in Matamata. Once filming was complete and the movie set opened to public visitors, Gavin was engaged directly by the owners to re-develop the Green Dragon into a Café/Bar and function venue, to serve as a tour-end for all visitors to Hobbiton.
The original design of the building was intended for filming only, therefore it was a unique challenge of converting a themed ‘shell’ into a fully functioning interior space. The building is nestled against the hillside, so some creative structural and waterproofing solutions were required to maintain durability, while also not appearing fake or crammed.
The interior design consists of a large, double-sided, stone fireplace, a commercial kitchen, a bar and seating for over 80 people. There needed to be a wow-effect from the moment visitors entered, so large turned columns, stone floor and a hand-carved Green Dragon Servery counter helped portray the scenes from the original Lord of the Rings Films. The entrance, bar and facilities needed to cope with frequent bursts of tour groups, so additional breakout areas were introduced. The fitout was also developed to promote a logical flow of people, with coherent wayfinding.
The Rt Hon John Key officially opened the building in 2012 and Gavin has designed further extensions and alterations to the building as demand and visitor numbers have soared. It is now New Zealand’s most popular pub, with over 40 kegs of beer being consumed on their busiest days!