Te Whau Pathway_
Our vision of this project is to weave together of the river and the community through a series of infrastructural elements that respond and engage with the landscape, representing community, culture, and heritage. Aspiring for design excellence and creative place making that demonstrates best practice in environmental, cultural and social sustainability. We have re-imagined this walking, cycling and social infrastructure connection as a recessive, environmentally responsive and multi-layered form that offers a range of episodic play, water access and social experiences that stitch together land, sea and community.
The weaving together of the river and the community through a series of infrastructural elements that respond and engage with the landscape, representing community, culture, and heritage. Aspiring for design excellence and creative place making that demonstrates best practice in environmental, cultural and social sustainability.
The colour palette has been informed by the intertidal landscape zone, Te Taiao - the natural world and environment, and the highly significant kuaka (Bar-tailed Godwit) that migrates every year from Alaska to feed on the tidal flats and coastal marshes of Aotearoa. Designed for Auckland Council and Auckland Transport with BECA, HEB and the Te Whau Pathway project stakeholders.
Our approach is informed by the following design principles:
001 One Pathway, Many Places_
Continuous + Cohesive
A consistent and cohesive expression supporting the idea of a single pathway embedded with a sense of identity and place that supports the project aspirations and unique Te Whau identity linking harbour to harbour.
Modular + Elegant
The resource consent provides limited opportunity for refinement of the alignment, development of the boardwalk design and the addition of design features. In response to this, the design language and strategy for the boardwalk is to be simple, elegant, and efficient.
002 Moments_
Site Specific & Episodic
An overlay of curated and site specific responses that support ‘episodic experiences’ as the pathway transitions through varying landscapes and neighbourhoods. These are a combination of opportunities to access the water, provide for views and opportunities for bird watching and ecological enhancement etc. The considered distribution of these elements will provide points of interest and respond to the site.
Start + Middle + End
Gateway interventions acknowledge the start/end points of the pathway in Green Bay and SH16 and the idea of a ‘middle’, a key destination and focus point for the community.
003 Art, Wayfinding & Interpretation_
Kit of Parts
Building on locations and key ‘moments’ identified in 002, a curated series of integrated art, interpretation, wayfinding, and placemaking elements are interwoven, revealing stories, narratives and history of Te Whau and surrounding communities.
Design Collaboration
Collaborative/co-design of a suite of signage and interpretation elements in collaboration with mana whenua, appointed artists and community.
Location_ Whau River, Auckland
Client_ Hugh Green Group
Date_ 2020 - Current
Budget_ $TBC
Team_ LandLAB