Description:

Healing Grounds: Re-Claiming the Tank Farm

The Tank Farm on Auckland's waterfront is part of the so-called 'reclaimed land' established beyond the original shoreline of Tāmaki Makaurau. It has long been a symbol of environmental degradation, forming a toxic disconnection between the city and its natural surroundings. The pollution of the site started with the reclamation itself. Waste fill material from former gasworks was used to create this new harbor part; petrochemical and bulk liquid industries caused further contamination. This project aims to take a new approach to revitalizing a deserted site in an industrial environment.

This project allows nature and the community of Auckland to re-claim the (re)claimed land by moulding it into diverse Island environments with varying ecosystems. Next to natural rehabilitation, creating non-commercial gathering spaces was a primary goal. These new spaces aim to reconnect people with each other and the living environment of New Zealand.
Four modules have been developed - event spaces, farming silos, hangi pits, and insect hotels - to support the reclamation process, acting as catalysts to foster a symbiotic relationship between the land, water, people, and other living creatures.

Some of the original silos have been retained and transformed into event spaces.
Their old facades now feature openings that allow for suspended artworks and breathtaking aerial performances while their night-time illumination creates a compelling ambiance around them.
Newly designed silos serve as vertical farming hubs, offering Aucklanders a chance to grow food, support native plant nurseries and nurture meaningful encounters. Participants will have the opportunity to better understand ecosystems and the need for their protection.
Picnic pads throughout the islands are equipped with hangi pits, where people can cook, share food, and strengthen community bonds.
Smaller installations act as insect hotels and beehives, allowing people to support essential pollinators responsibly.

Throughout the design process, the original form language of the silos, which heavily impacted the site, inspired the development of new elements. The land's past is still visible and will stand as an opportunity for all of us to learn from its history and do better in the future. Through the ecological restoration, Healing Grounds transforms contaminated whenua into a vibrant urban haven where nature and community thrive harmoniously.