Kings Plant Barn has opened a new garden centre, which it describes as the most sustainable in New Zealand.

The retail space, located in Stonefields, Auckland, was designed by Cheshire Architects, the firm responsible for commercial projects including Britomart, The Britomart Hotel, and City Works Depot.

The 2800sqm store features a cafe, Garden Kitchen, with a seasonal menu focusing on locally grown produce, plant-based options, and ‘root-to-stem’ dishes. An all-weather playground made of sustainable and recycled materials is also available for children.

According to Kings Plant Barn, sustainability is a key design theme, and the store uses sustainable wood, solar panels that provide the majority of the store’s daytime energy, irrigation systems that incorporate water reuse, and new plastic recycling initiatives, including a collaboration with Future Post. The store’s delivery vehicles are electric.

“Kings Plant Barn is committed to helping cultivate a greener future for New Zealand,” said GM Chris Hall.  

“From the building design to our operations, we have looked at all areas of this store through a sustainability lens to make it the most sustainable garden centre in the country.” 

Customers can see plants displayed in living, dining, and office spaces in display zones and the store offers space for local creatives to showcase and sell their products, with 100 per cent of profits returned to the designer.