Auckland Council Group wins multiple landscape architecture awards

Auckland Council Director of Infrastructure and Environmental Services Barry Potter attributes the outstanding outcomes achieved in these projects to “true partnership” with mana whenua.

“From early on in the projects, our mana whenua partners worked with the design teams to bring their knowledge and understanding of place to every level of design. Their contribution has ensured we are delivering uniquely Tāmaki Makaurau spaces for all to enjoy,” he says.

Te Wānanga, delivered by Auckland Council and Auckland Transport in partnership with mana whenua, was awarded the George Malcolm Supreme Award, recognising the most outstanding achievement in landscape design. The award was presented to Isthmus Group for the extraordinary new civic space extending over the city centre’s harbour edge.

One of the judges, Dr Jacky Bowring described the “multi-layered, multi-experiential space” as a “real gift” to the city. “It’s a welcoming site. An educational presence. If you spend time, you’ll learn from being there,” she said.

An Eke Panuku enabled project was awarded the Charlie Challenger Supreme Award recognising the most outstanding achievement in landscape planning. The award was presented to Te Waiohua iwi, Eke Panuku and Resilio Studio for Te Whakaoranga o Te Puhinui: Te Rautaki, Te Puhinui Regeneration Strategy, which the award judges said was an outstanding example of processes around stream regeneration in south Auckland, within a wide cultural and natural setting.

And in the urban design category, two winners came from the celebrated Downtown Programme: Te Wānanga was the category winner while Quay Street Upgrade won an excellence award.

Te Wānanga sits on the seaward side of Quay Street, designed to reflect the feeling of being on a rocky tidal shelf, with apertures seeming like rock pools and steel balustrades styled like giant kina shells. The space takes its organic shape from the sandstone headlands of the Waitematā Harbour.

Director of the Downtown Programme for Auckland Council and Auckland Transport, Eric van Essen says: “This represents well deserved recognition for projects that really have transformed Auckland’s waterfront.

“Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, the Downtown Joint Venture contractors, designers and mana whenua and their artists and advisers can all be incredibly proud of their achievements, which were made possible through strong partnerships and collaboration,” he says.

2022 Resene New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture Award winners from the Auckland Council Group:

Parks, Open Spaces and Recreation

Award of Excellence
Amey Daldy Park + Daldy Street Linear Park
LandLAB
Auckland Transport, Eke Panuku, Watercare

Award of Excellence
Tank Park
LandLAB
Eke Panuku
Tessa Harris, Reuben Kirkwood

Category Winner
Maungawhau Tihi Boardwalk
Isthmus
Tūpuna Maunga Authority, Tūpuna Taonga Trust, mana whenua, and with Stellar Projects and HEB Construction.

Civic and Urban Design

Award of Excellence
Quay Street Upgrade
LandLAB
City Centre Design Collective, Mana Whenua, and the Downtown Programme
Kāhui Kaiarataki
Auckland Council,Auckland Transport

Category Winner
Te Wānanga
Isthmus, as part of the City Centre Design Collective, in partnership with Mana Whenua and the Downtown Programme

Master Planning and Urban Design Strategy

Award of Excellence
City Centre Design Collective
Auckland Council
In partnership with Mana Whenua and the Downtown Programme

Category Winner
Te Whakaoranga o Te Puhinui: Te Rautaki | Te Puhinui Regeneration Strategy
Prepared by Resilio Studio, Eke Panuku,Te Waiohua – Ngaati Te Ata, Ngaati Tamaoho and Te Ākitai o Waiohua
With Support from Crank, Done Ltd, Healthy Waters, Jasmax,Johnnie Freeland,Mau Studio, Morphum Environmental, Native by Nature and WSP

He Iti Pounamu

Joint Category Winner
Te Maharatanga o Ngā Wai - remembering our waters
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau

SupremeAwards

George Malcolm Award
Te Wānanga
Isthmus, as part of the City Centre Design Collective, in partnership with Mana Whenua and the Downtown Programme


Charlie Challenger Award
Te Whakaoranga o Te Puhinui: Te Rautaki | Te Puhinui Regeneration Strategy
Prepared by Resilio Studio, Eke Panuku,Te Waiohua – Ngaati Te Ata, Ngaati Tamaoho and Te Ākitai o Waiohua

With Support from Crank, Done Ltd, Healthy Waters, Jasmax,Johnnie Freeland,Mau Studio, Morphum Environmental, Native by Nature and WSP