Auckland reserve named World Landscape of the Year 2016

The Kopupaka Reserve in Auckland has been named World Landscape of the Year at the 2016 World Architecture Festival.

Designed by New Zealand firm Isthmus, the Kopupaka Reserve is a 22-hectare landscape made up of five stormwater wetlands.

Forming the major recreation open space for the Massey North Town Centre development, the open space promotes concepts of integrated urban design.

In developing the the area, Isthmus and consultant engineers Blue Barn worked closely with Auckland Council to ensure that design responded to the character of the site and its surrounds, as well as to the strategic urban development initiatives.

A statement from Isthmus explained “the design of the open space at Tōtara Creek has challenged stormwater reserve expectations and illustrates how urban growth can be balanced with ecological restoration to create new public reserves and urban connections while developing strong landscape amenity.

“Timber structures integrated into and defining the edges of the three three main wetland ponds take reference from weaving of harakeke into kete and hīnaki, a concept developed between Isthmus and Rawstorne Studios that utilises a standard timber crib retaining system to create forms that weave their way throughout the designed landscape creating a series of spaces and land bridges adjacent to the wetland water bodies.

“These spaces provide for reed-bed filters, a skatepark, and a weaving garden showcasing harakeke species available for harvesting.”

Judges described the project as a successful translation of regional Maori traditions, stating “inspired by woven baskets for catching eel, Isthmus has developed an innovative river-wall system of interlocking timbers.”

For more information on the project, go to www.isthmus.co.nz/?action=project-detail&id=68

Images courtesy of Isthmus.

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