Consisting of 36 trees, a new range of well crafted and detailed street furniture and 8 light boxes hosting temporary exhibitions this park overcame stiff opposition at the loss of a road and carparking to become a much loved public space.

This project was for the Wellington City Council and spanned much of the four years I worked there. I worked with three excellent chaps called Peter on this project - Peter Fraser, Pete McEvoy and Peter Kundycki


Under the Pavement Beach?

This seat was born from a substantial budget cut. In exasperation I suggested we fold up the pavement and sit on asphalt. What started as a throw away line developed into seventeen 3.2m cantilevered COR-ten benches that have become a distinctive feature of the park. LED strip lighting provides a co-ordinated lighting show while the folded seat backs provide a challenge for skaters.

The opening night, it was cold and wet but the photographs looked phenomenal. I curated this project Flanerie and Figments with Andy Palmer who posted some photos of the park the next day.

It is early days but I can see the Light Boxes becoming a valuable part of Wellingtons Arts Infrastructure. The City Gallery has taken on the curatorial role for the next two exhibitions with the first, Give us a Sign curated by Heather Galbraith, Senior Curator of the City Gallery, Wellington

Love Trees but don't want to fence them in?


This finely crafted tree pit system filters all storm water on site through the 36 tree pits. The COR-ten tree grates have drainage holes cut in a pattern referencing a former Maori Village located near the site. The tree grates have a small hole for the trunk but have been designed to be cut easily to allow the tree to grow without letting a lot of trash into the pit. The tree guards learnt from the bulky, wobbly, poorly connected tree guards that proliferate our cities, being four, thin blades that offer protection without dominating the tree or taking up a lot of space.



Project Team; [WCC] Simon Bush-King, Peter Fraser, Peter McEvoy, Peter Kundycki. Kevin Ma(Model)
Engineers; Spencer Holmes
Park Elements fabricated by JJ Fraser Engineering

Image Credits: Wellington City Council Archives, Simon Bush-King, Kerryn Treloar, Peter Fraser, Photography Matters Dominika Zielinska