News and views , awards and innovations , opinions and events – at home and abroad
6 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA
Agenda :
News and views , awards and innovations , opinions and events – at home and abroad
KOPUPAKA RESERVE IN WESTGATE , AUCKLAND was awarded Landscape of the Year Winner 2016 at the World Architectural Festival ( WAF ), competing against the world ’ s best landscape projects ,
Designed by Isthmus Group , Kopupaka Reserve is situated in the emerging Westgate Centre in the Henderson-Massey Local Board area .
The Kopupaka Reserve is a 22-hectare landscape made up of five stormwater wetlands The linear
WAF Judges described the project as a successful translation of regional Maori traditions .
“ Inspired by woven baskets for catching eel , Isthmus has developed an innovative river-wall system of interlocking timbers ,” they said .
“ Simple yet sophisticated engienering allows the baskets to retain silt and create habitats which will shift and change over time .”
John Dunshea , General Manager Development reserve follows a riparian corridor and integrates community amenities with engineering and ecology .
Interspaced with stormwater ponds and wetland areas , the reserve ’ s design serves as open space for recreation and helps to manage stormwater .
The designers added a series of timber structures around the edges of three ponds , creating forms that weave their way across the landscape .
These provide reed-bed filters , a skatepark and planting areas .
Project Office ( DPO ) at Auckland Council said , “ It ’ s fantastic that [ New Zealand ] design is being recognised in an international arena . We are doing it right and the world is taking notice . We are making a difference in our attitude to buildings , places and spaces that make our city stand out .”
Henderson-Massey Local Board member Vanessa Neeson agreed : “ We thought the designs that Isthmus presented to our board were stunning . This win confirms that .” �