The third outing of our biannual design competition sees three innovative new seats taking their places in Takutai Square for a month.
Takutai Square has some new places to sit in September: three new nohonga (seats), to be exact, designed by teams selected from a design competition run by the Auckland branch of the NZ Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora.
This is the third edition of the biennial competition, which is supported by Britomart, Resene and JFC: this time around, each of the teams of landscape architects was invited to respond to the prompt of Haumanu (renewal or restoration), a theme that draws inspiration from the cyclical nature of all things and the desire to find balance between whenua (landscape) and tangata (people).
The three winning teams received funding to make their nohonga, and the results of their efforts are now on public display until the first week of October 2024. Read on to find out more about each of them.
PŌKARE
By William Chrisp and Ryan Peralta
Pōkare creates a space for pause, inviting both individual and shared moments of contemplation and reflection. The rippling form symbolises that even in stillness, life — like the cycles of nature — continues to evolve and change.
The circular arrangement of routed panels affords this shared experience, drawing people together for meaningful connection. Pōkare encourages us to reflect on the influences that have shaped our lives and to consider how our past and present actions will shape our future. Each ripple represents a generation within our whakapapa, with the core symbolizing the present moment. In this central space, we connect with both our family and ancestors, grounding ourselves in the continuity of life. As the ripples extend outward, they signify our connection to future generations and our role in the ongoing evolution of life.
The designers were assisted by FabricationSpecialists, Greenscene, Cut Shop and Plyman.
WAVE
Design by Zak White, Alfred Chan and Jo Kearney from Boffa Miskell Landscape Architects
The form of this Nohonga represents a connection to the cycles of the seasons, moon and tide. Wave is centred on embodying our interdependency with these elements, with its undulating form residing and rebalancing.
Made from the durable accoya timber and steel, the Resene stains reflect the different stages of the pine: its foliage, bark, fresh-cut and weathered.
The designers were assisted by Urban Effects on Fabrication and Construction, ITI NZ | Accoya on Timber Suppy, Coastwood on CNC services, and Mitchell Vranjes, Engineering Consultant.
KA MUA KA MURI
By Zak Kelland, Nicole Tune and Hamish Murphy
This nohonga captures the whakapapa (life cycle) of a rākau (tree), physically responding to the whakataukī ‘ka mua ka muri’ (“walking backwards into the future”).
Crafted from Rimu slats and salvaged Redwood, each segment tells a story—the towering trunk of Te Wao Nui, the timber slats of Te Rauemi, the form of Te Waka, and the sanctuary of Te Whare. Grounded in Papatūānuku, this nohonga aligns with Ka Mua and Ka Muri, inviting reflection on our past and future.
The designers were assisted by Scott Geddes of Auckland Tree Services, Cathy Challinor with design support, Andi Suryadharma with construction support, and Boffa Miskell.
You can read more about the 2022 Nohonga winners here and here, and the 2020 winners here.
