Spatial

LandLAB 16 Westhaven Promenade

2021 Private, Public and Institutional Spaces
Credits
  • Pou Auaha / Creative Director
    Henry Crothers
  • Ringatoi Matua / Design Director
    Scott Greenhalgh
  • Ngā Kaimahi / Team Members
    Sam Gould, Jeremy Thompson
  • Kaitautoko / Contributors
    Beca, Jawa Structures, ASPECT Studios, E3BW, Architectus
  • Client
    Panuku
Judge's comments:

A wonderful and highly valued gift - a fine example of universal quality open space that returns the waters edge back to its people

Description:

Westhaven Promenade is a continuous 2km long ‘shared use’ water’s edge promenade and associated open spaces, seamlessly integrated within complex and dynamic working waterfront context, unlocking public access to the marina waterfront.

The brief was to provide a continuous pedestrian walkway and recreational cycleway linking Daldy Street in the Wynyard Quarter to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The promenade passes through the existing marina area, St Mary’s Bay and alongside Westhaven Drive.

The project includes on land pathways and overwater boardwalks, new waters edge open spaces, marina infrastructure and new coastal structures such as piers, observation platforms, lookouts and the ecological enhancement of the coastal margin zone.

Auckland’s inner harbour coastal landscape condition is typified by a rhythm of headlands and bays. In this condition the ‘bays’ function as sheltered gathering spaces and the ‘headlands’ as strategic vantage points. Revealing this rhythm was a key driver in the spatial arrangement of the promenade route.

The promenade structure has been designed to be simple, efficient and modular to ensure ease of construction and maintenance.

A key design intent of the project was to minimise the visual impact both on and off the structure. This has been achieved through the development and approval process to achieve a lightweight and highly permeable marine environment specific balustrade.

A considered design approach, cohesive materiality selection, and alignment strategy delivers an episodic and engaging experience along the previously inaccessible water's edge.
The project has successfully merged with the existing working marina, land-based activities and enhanced public access. The promenade incorporates generous timber decking, bespoke seating and lighting, new marina infrastructure including pier entrances, signage and the re-use of pontoons and platforms for public access.