LandLAB Melbourne studio opening

LandLAB is delighted to announce the opening of our new studio in Naarm - Melbourne. As we celebrate a decade of successful practice in Aotearoa - New Zealand, we are excited about embracing new adventures and building new relationships in Australia.

Design Director Henry Crothers says, ‘We are excited to be able to build on existing relationships, test ourselves in a new market and bring together synergies between practising in New Zealand and Australia which will enhance our offering in both places’.

If you’re interested in working with or for us, we’d love to hear from you at studio@landlab.co.nz_

Te Ara Tukutuku

We are thrilled to be part of the Toi Waihanga team that will be collaborating with mana whenua and Eke Panuku to transform the Wynyard Headland into Te Ara Tukutuku a new 5 ha waters edge public space incorporating Wynyard Wharf and future development sites.

Toi Waihanga is comprised of LandLAB, SCAPE, Warren and Mahoney, Mott McDonald (supported by DONE), BECA Stellar Projects and Fresh Concept.

Te Ara Tukutuku is a name used for waka (canoe) ramps. It is a metaphor for the binding of the land and the sea, between the domains of Tangaroa and Papatūānuku.     

Henry Crothers on behalf of the design collective says, “Toi Waihanga represents our collective of ‘creatives’ bringing our own expertise, experiences and passion that alongside Mana Whenua and Eke Panuku will support Te Ara Tukutuku to thrive through deep engagement, meaningful wānanga and regeneration. A process of listening, enabling, codesign and delivery that enables Te Ara Tukutuku to breathe and thrive.”

Toi Waihanga is working alongside Eke Panuku and mana whenua over a number of hui to gain an understanding of the brief and ensure a clear line of sight between the purpose, principles, design and outcomes of Te Ara Tukutuku and its delivery. Once ready, the designs will be shared publicly so that Aucklanders can get involved, have their say, and share their aspirations for the future of the space. We look forward to being able to share more soon and getting Aucklanders excited about what this major open space will look and feel like. The drive behind the work is to create a place that is distinctly Tāmaki Makaurau, recognisably Aotearoa, resilient, prepared for the future, and a place where people will always feel welcome.

“Where once iwi mana whenua were all but largely absent in the built environment, ongoing partnership with Eke Panuku has given rise to an increasingly sophisticated indigenous voice that is unique to Tāmaki Makaurau,” shares Adrian Pettit, Iwi Kaitiaki of Te Ākitai Waiohua, “Te Ara Tukutuku seeks to crystallise that voice, in a way that is both enduring and highly legible.”

Image: courtesy Eke Panuku

Monocle Design Awards 2022_

Pleased to have been acknowledge in Monocle Magazine 2022 Design Awards for our recently completed Tank Park project on the Tāmaki Makaurau waterfront for Eke Panuku_ The award acknowledges the innovative adaptive re-use of the found industrial archaeology on the site which has been recovered and repurposed as social infrastructure and interactive play components. Revealing the sites DNA and weaving its marine and industrial character into the programming of a new multi-functional park and event space was central to our approach.

2022_ Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Awards_

The LandLAB team are excited to have 7 projects as finalists in this years Tuia Pito Ora - New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects awards program. Spanning the categories of Commercial, Parks + Recreation, Transport and Urban Design this reflects our design-led and integrated approach that merges the ecologies of urbanism, landscape and place.

The projects shortlisted include Commercial Bay (Precinct Properties), Westhaven Stage 002 (Eke Panuku), Tank Park (Eke Panuku) Karangahape Road Upgrade (w Tessa Harris for Auckland Transport/Council), Quay Street Upgrade (Auckland Transport/Council), Amey Daldy Park + Daldy Street Linear Park (Eke Panuku/Auckland Transport) and Te Mata Topaki (w Graeme Tipene for Tramco)_

Thanks to all our great clients, collaborators and partners for making these projects happen_

Sirius Competition Win_

LandLAB has won an international competition to develop an urban master plan and public realm concept for the 7.5km long Imeretinskaya Embankment adjacent the 2014 Olympic site in Sochi, Russia. 

LandLAB’s Design Director Henry Crothers says this is a hugely exciting result. “To be competing against such such a high calibre of competion and to come out on top validates our approach to this and other design projects,” he says. “To have our work endorsed by a such high quality international jury is also extremely gratifying.” Henry says for LandLAB, this hopefully means the team will get to take part in more of these international opportunities. “We enjoy the challenge of working at a scale and degree of complexity that we don’t often see in Aotearoa’.

The LandLAB approach to the Imeretinskaya Embankment was founded on a reading of the tectonics of the existing landscape and an acknowledgement of the need to create places, identity, built form and experiences that expressed the specific qualities of Sirius. “With a series of dynamic locations and ecosystems of maximum activity, exchange and hybridisation, we see a transition in the way of understanding the existing waterfront from a linear ‘promenade’ to seeing it as a wider maritime interface. An expanded and re-imagined ‘front’ where the city can express its traditions, expand its uses and discover new potentials”.

“The winning concept is distinguished by an environmentally oriented approach, attention to the cultural and historical context of our territory and the functionality of the space. We are very pleased that the opinion of the jury members coincided with ours, and the concept that meets both of these criteria won.”

Elena Shmeleva, Chairman of the Council of the Federal Territory "Sirius"

“I would like to note the really high quality of the winner's work. Such a large and significant project should be developed by professionals, and LandLAB already has experience working with large-scale projects. The concept takes into account the geographical, historical and cultural context of the territory, as well as its landscape characteristics. This is the only concept that relied on the tectonics of the landscape, providing a variety of public spaces and access to the sea. This concept complies with the principles of sustainable development and allows the project to be implemented in accordance with ESG standards. The result of the project will be a place where it will be easy to live and work,” 

Martin Rein Kano, jury member, co-founder and managing partner of Topotek 1.

Sixty-eight teams from 48 countries took part in the competition. LandLAB was named a finalist in October last year along with high profile international firms BIG (Denmark), !melk (USA), Michel Desvigne Paysagiste (France), LOLA (Netherlands) and AB Chvoya (Russia). The team led by BIG came second in the competition, with the LOLA team placing third. 

Tank Park_

Two years in the making… a transformation from ‘Tank Farm’ to ‘Tank Park’ the newest addition to Wynyard Quarter’s design-led transformation. Tank Park creatively adapts and reveals the sites unique post-industrial character (near mythology) into an authentic, engaging and immersive landscape experience and landmark at the confluence of the ‘waterfront’ and ‘park’ axes and geographical heart of the Quarter_ 

Tank Park is... a flexible and adaptable space, curated around remnant industrial tanks. that enables a range of operational modes and strategic placemaking initiatives that compliments and constrasts with the adjacent. Silo Park. A new range of public realm experiences that evolves over time through a choreographed program of intervention, occupation and event_ 

Sirius Waterfront Competition_

Delighted to be selected as a finalist for the International Competition to develop an urban master plan + public realm concept for the 7.5km long Sirius Waterfront in Sochi, Russia. Along with BIG (Denmark), !melk (USA), L’AUC + Michel Desvigne Paysagiste (France), LOLA (Netherlands) and AB Chvoya (Russia)_

Our entry consisted of simple but effective approach to unite and expand the waterfront promenade, evolve the character zone into a diverse range of precincts, and activate the promenade through a series of episodic interventions.

Quay Street Pohutukawa 2021_

One of the good things about the end of a kiwi summer is that it's finally cool enough to plant some sweet looking trees. The Pohutukawa planted along Quay Street are around 40 years old. The nighttime installation was watched over by some of the LandLAB-ers to make sure we had it in the perfect spot.

Kia Whakanuia Te Whenua – People Place Landscape_

LandLAB was invited by Dr Diane Menzies to contribute a piece of writing to the first Landscape Foundation publication Kia Whakanuia Te Whenua – People Place Landscape. LandLAB joins the collection of 40 local and international authors in expressing perspectives and knowledge of critical issues linked to the whenua.

The book explores Māori concepts of Whenua in a diversity of ways; from land loss and alienation to whakapapa and identity, Kaupapa Māori, environmental management and how matauranga Māori might be woven into western science solutions.

Our contribution ‘Land, Water, Wellbeing: Ki Uta Ki Tai – From Mountains to Sea’ by Landscape Architect Bela Hinemoa Grimsdale, explores the significance of identity and wellbeing and how it is intrinsically linked to the importance of healthy wai (water). Bela has used our Avon River Park and Long Bay Wetlands projects as case studies as a response to rehabilitation and re-connecting people to wai.

Thanks to Dr Diane Menzies for the privilege of being included in this important publication, and to editor Carolyn Hill for her mahi assembling these articles

Order your copy through the NZILA website

Auckland's newest headland - Te Mata Topaki_

Another completed project for LandLAB, a lookout which functions as both a destination experience, and a vantage point for observation of the basin, city centre and wider landscape. The concept was given to us by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei artist Graeme Tipene, drawn from narrative to incorporate the ‘taurapa’, ‘Matā’ and ‘Topaki’. Read more here.

Westhaven Promenade Stage 02 complete! 2020_

Getting from A to B has never looked so good! Have you had a chance to walk the full Westhaven Promenade? If your lucky you might spot Auckland’s celebrity Owha the lepoard seal lying in the sun.

Gibbs Farm Trip 2020_

The LandLAB team visited Gibbs Farm early December. We were proud to support a good cause as the ticket sales going towards charity. After a long wander around the park and close observation of the sculptures, the LAB mates left feeling inspired and some a little sunburnt.
This trip pairs quite nicely with a real fruit ice-creams on the way home.

WAN Award Winner 2020_

LandLAB’s Tank Park was named a Silver Winner at this year's WAN Awards for Tank Park in the Future Projects - Urban Design category

Te Whakatōhenehene ‘The Disruption’_

The Nohonga (seat) design challenge is a new collaboration between Brick Bay and the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora who are challenging students and all levels of graduated landscape architects to design and construct creative nohonga for the citizens of Tāmaki Makaurau.

The seat is currently installed in Britomart and will be moved to the Brick Bay sculpture trail outdoor gallery in 2021 for a 12 month installation.

LandLAB proudly sponsored Bela Grimsdale, Luke Veldhuizen and Sam Gould’s winning entry - Te Whakatōhenehene ‘The Disruption’ which explores the relationship between Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earth mother). After the seperation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku by their child Tānemahuta (god of forests) their youngest child Rūaumoko (god of earthquakes and volcanoes) was left in his mother’s belly to warm and comfort her.

The rain and mist we experience is Ranginui’s grief at being separated from Papatūānuku and their unborn child Rūaumoko. This upsets Rūaumoko and with his fiery nature he erupts, with his marks remaining as permanent striations on the land. In an endless cycle as Rūaumoko pushes up the earth in anger, the tears of Ranginui’s sorrow erode the earth back to the land.

The design of this nohonga references the idea of raw, red earth being forced skyward and shaped by the dynamic forces of nature. Pushed and pulled both subtly and with ingenuity, our seat is crystalised in its final form, revealing a blend of our minds, our hearts, wild nature, and the hand of mankind. 

BEST Awards 2020_

We are ecstatic to be awarded 3 awards at this year’s BEST Awards. Lombard Lane + Denton Park won Silver and Viaduct Activation Elements won bronze in the Spatial Category under Public and Institutional Spaces/Outdoor Spaces. Commercial Bay Sculptural Seat won Silver in the Product Category under Furniture. Our first win in the Product Category!

Gelendzhik Botanical Park Competition_

LandLAB were invited to enter Gelendzhik Park international competition, which occurred before lockdown in 2020. A park with botanical collections in the Gelendzhik Bay will become a real highlight for residents and tourists. Gelendzhik is a popular tourist destination, so the park should have enough appeal for both a one-time visit and daily walks.

Our design strategy for Gelendzhik Park outlines a landscape-based approach, drawing upon the ecological, geological and cultural context of Gelendzhik to inform a high performance, multi-layered and flexible park strategy that touches the site lightly re-establishes a resilient park ecology and programs the site with a range of botanical, recreational and social experiences_

WAN Awards 2020_

Tank Park has been shortlisted for a World Architecture News Award under the Urban Future Projects Category.

This project imagines a transformation from ‘Tank Farm’ to ‘Tank Park’ the newest addition to Wynyard Quarter’s design-led transformation. Tank Park creatively adapts and reveals the sites unique post-industrial character (near mythology) into an authentic, engaging and immersive landscape experience and landmark at the confluence of the ‘waterfront’ and ‘park’ axes and geographical heart of the Quarter.

Westhaven Promenade Stage 02 Progress_

“A world class destination that excites the senses and celebrates our sea-loving Pacific culture and maritime history. It supports commercially successful and innovative businesses and is a place for all people, an area rich in character and activities that link people to the city and the sea.”

Westhaven promenade stage 02 is due for completion in November 2020. This boardwalk will create a shared use water’s edge promenade between the Wynyard Quarter and Auckland’s Harbour Bridge. LandLAB visited the site to check on the construction progress and are blown away by the summer looking scenes. Looking forward to seeing the public enjoy this sunny water’s edge project.

BEST Awards Finalists 2020_

The Designers Institute has selected 3 LandLAB projects as finalists in the BEST Design Awards of 2020. Lombard Lane + Denton Park and Viaduct Activation Elements are both finalists in the Spatial Category under Public and Institutional Spaces/Outdoor Spaces. At the same time, Commerical Bay Sculptural Seat is a finalist in the Product Category under Furniture.

BEST Awards Judge 2020_

LandLAB is proud to have one of our own be a judge at this years DINZ Best Awards. Scott Greenhalgh was a judge in the spatial category and spent a week away making some tough decisions. Scott was saddened to miss going to all his beloved meetings but thoroughly enjoyed being part of the judging process.