2 March 2007

A vision for Matiatia emerges after design search

A design by DJ Scott Associates with Hillery Priest Architecture, both of Auckland, has won the Vision for Matiatia design search.

The design, one of five final entries that was regarded by the assessment panel as having the best potential for development, was endorsed by the Urban Strategy and Governance Committee.

A working party will meet with the architects to finalise a concept plan for the council's Property Enterprise Board (PEB) to implement. The working party comprises Deputy Mayor and committee chairperson, Dr Bruce Hucker; Councillor Faye Storer; Waiheke Community Board chairperson, Ray Ericson; representatives of the council's Property Enterprise Board; and DJ Scott Associates.

The two-stage design search began with a brief developed in consultation with the local community and a working party. The first stage produced 75 designs and about 400 people gave feedback after a public exhibition. The designs were numbered to ensure the anonymity of the entrants.

The feedback helped refine the second stage design brief and an assessment panel of community representatives and built environment professionals chose five finalists and invited them to produce more detailed designs.

These designs were also exhibited and posted on the council's website and public feedback was referred to the assessment panel to help in their final recommendation.

In their report, assessors said they were aware further changes to the design brief could be expected before any development started. An important consideration was the extent to which each of the stage two designs offered a strong framework for development, capable of accommodating changes.

Assessors were unanimous in their view that the DJ Scott and Hillery Priest design, numbered 201, was the strongest in meeting the brief and other key design issues.

Dr Bruce Hucker said the intention of the process was to arrive at a design that could be developed further.

"The final built development may not exactly mirror the chosen design but will contain the key principles of the design as identified by the judges.

"Further work will include an analysis of the cost and return of the development and any public good elements to ensure that the design concept is financially viable."

The PEB would then announce a request for proposals to test the market's response and report back to the council.

Subject to a final plan being available by mid-year, seeking and short listing proposals would take a further six months followed by a recommendation to the council.

Prize money totalling $75,000 has been awarded to the five finalists.

The assessors' summary of the winning design is attached. Their comments on the other designs will be made available on the council website, www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/matiatia

Assessment panel's summary of the winning design

Scheme 201

This scheme retains the underlying development framework advanced in Stage 1, while also introducing a number of revisions that address previously identified shortcomings.

The design establishes a number of open spaces of different character, most of these being well defined by buildings, vehicle and pedestrian routes, or landscape treatments. Environmentally sustainable design issues have been carefully considered at a number of levels, from broad site planning considerations to the design of individual buildings. While remaining somewhat tentative, the architectural character of the buildings has been informed by the desire for the overall development to respond positively to the special character of Matiatia.

A clear distinction has been drawn between traffic movements related to Matiatia's role as a transport hub, and that associated with the other activities within the development. Bus drop off and pick up points have been positioned a short distance from the ferry terminal, in recognition that projected increases in bus movements would create problems of congestion at peak periods, alongside the existing wharf.

The proposal relies upon covered walkways to define principal pedestrian routes from the ferry terminal to buses and the gateway village. The effectiveness of these as places of shelter and activity would be enhanced by introducing buildings along one edge, wherever possible.

The assessors considered that the proposal could be further improved with a number of relatively simple changes. These include the compression of the development (in order to reduce the size and scale of open spaces), its relocation as far towards the existing ferry terminal and the foreshore as possible, the more comprehensive use of built edges alongside principal pedestrian routes, and the creation of a more positive relationship between buildings and the wetland areas.

It was noted that the total building floor area was at the minimum indicated in the design brief, and that the design approach adopted in this proposal would readily accommodate an increase in the amount of building should this prove commercially necessary.

In summary, the assessors considered that the proposal offered a sound yet adaptable framework for development, capable of accommodating changes in the mix of building related uses, in response to more detailed commercial feasibility studies.

ENDS

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