Naumi Studio Wellington, New Zealand
Artful Play in Heritage Bones
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A heritage-listed Salvation Army building transformed into one of New Zealand’s most exuberant design hotels.
● A maximalist celebration of local creativity featuring installations, artworks, textiles, and furniture by leading New Zealand artists and designers.
● Located in the heart of Cuba Street, Wellington’s cultural district, surrounded by cafés, galleries, boutiques, and creative energy.
Where Heritage Meets Imagination
Some historic hotels preserve the past. Naumi Studio Wellington prefers to play with it. Occupying a landmark Edwardian building on Wellington’s vibrant Cuba Street, this colorful boutique hotel transforms heritage architecture into a living work of art. Originally constructed by the Salvation Army in the early twentieth century, the building has been reimagined by Singapore-based Naumi Hotels as an immersive world of creativity, color, and unapologetic personality. The result feels distinctly Wellington: artistic, independent, slightly eccentric, and full of character. From the moment guests step through the doors, neutrality disappears.
A Lobby Designed to Surprise
The arrival experience sets the tone immediately. Walls shimmer beneath oversized gold floral installations created by Art Dep’t NZ. Bespoke rugs by artist Karl Maughan unfold across the floor in bold patterns and vivid colors. Suspended above it all, a giant illuminated flower sculpture by Angus Muir glows like something between contemporary art and a dream sequence. Watching over the space is Lady Naumi herself — an ethereal neon portrait that has become one of the hotel’s defining visual signatures. The lobby feels less like a reception area and more like an art installation. Every detail invites curiosity.
A Heritage Building with a Sense of Humor
Rather than stripping away the building’s history, Auckland-based design studio Material Creative chose to celebrate it. Original architectural features remain visible throughout: lofty ceilings, decorative moldings, arched windows, and elegant Edwardian proportions provide the framework for an interior scheme that embraces maximalism with confidence. Books, curiosities, artwork, and unexpected design moments appear throughout the public spaces. The result feels playful without becoming chaotic. Sophisticated without becoming serious. A hotel that understands design should be enjoyable.
Rooms with Character
The 116 guestrooms continue the hotel’s vibrant design narrative while providing a calmer retreat from the theatrical public spaces below. Bold botanical headboards, jewel-toned furnishings, custom textiles, and curated artworks bring personality to every room. Historic architectural details remain visible throughout, creating an engaging dialogue between old and new. Suites take the concept even further, layering floral wallpapers, rich colors, and decorative elements with confidence and charm. Despite their visual energy, the rooms remain highly functional and comfortable, carefully adapted to the constraints of the heritage building. Every room feels individual. Every room feels alive.
Lola Rouge
At the heart of the hotel sits Lola Rouge, one of Wellington’s most popular dining destinations. The restaurant blends bold interiors with an equally expressive menu inspired by Asian flavors and contemporary global influences. Small plates encourage sharing, while inventive cocktails bring a sense of theatre to the experience. Soft pastel tones, sculptural lighting, and layered textures create an atmosphere that feels both glamorous and relaxed. It’s the kind of place where dinner effortlessly turns into drinks, and drinks often become a very long evening.
A Hotel Connected to the City
Naumi Studio feels deeply embedded in Wellington’s creative culture. Step outside and guests find themselves in the middle of Cuba Street, one of New Zealand’s most vibrant urban neighborhoods. Independent bookstores. Record shops. Art galleries. Cocktail bars. Vintage boutiques. Coffee roasters. The city’s cultural heartbeat begins directly outside the front door. Rather than insulating guests from Wellington, the hotel actively encourages engagement with it.
A Celebration of New Zealand Creativity
One of the hotel’s greatest strengths is its commitment to local talent. Throughout the property, works by New Zealand artists, designers, and makers create a sense of place that feels genuine rather than decorative. From Angus Muir’s sculptural lighting to Karl Maughan’s carpets and Art Dep’t NZ’s installations, the hotel functions almost as a showcase for contemporary New Zealand creativity. It is a hotel that could exist nowhere else.
The Last Word
Naumi Studio Wellington is one of New Zealand’s most joyful design hotels. By transforming a historic Salvation Army building into an immersive world of color, art, and imagination, it proves that heritage hospitality doesn’t need to be restrained or predictable. Bold, playful, and unmistakably Wellingtonian, it celebrates creativity at every turn while remaining warm, welcoming, and deeply human. For travelers who appreciate hotels with personality, originality, and a healthy sense of fun, Naumi Studio Wellington is a destination in itself.
