Pukeahu National War Memorial Park | Wellington

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park met the challenge of providing a suitable space for commemoration and remembrance at the confluence of one of the cities’ major arterial routes and one of the country’s most reverred monuments. The project revives the public realm between Tory, Buckle and Taranaki Streets for everyday use whilst embellishing the National War Memorial in a space that will provide future congregation and commemorance of national and international importance. The project:

- Enhances the setting of the National War Memorial;

- Provides spaces for people to congregate on ceremonial occasions such as Anzac Day;

- Expands the role of the National War Memorial to include recognition of the New Zealand Wars of the 1800’s and New Zealand’s role in peacekeeping operations;

- Creates an area in the capital city for the development of new memorials for countries with which New Zealand has had a close relationship;

- Creates a flexible and open space for everyday use and transition, and;

- Retains and enhances the strong heritage values of the area.

SUSTAINABILITY

- The design connects important areas of open space within the city, the National Memorial grounds, the Basin Reserve and Kent and Cambridge Terraces.

- A series of terraced wetlands collects and filters storm water runoff before it is conveyed downstream.

INNOVATION

The innovation of this proposal lies in the balancing of diverse programmes, between improving the quality of experience to be had at the National War Memorial and at the same time dealing with an existing major arterial route. The project provides a unique combination of programmes and activities to enrich the spaces around the memorial whilst bringing occupation into the area for a day-to-day use.

ARTWORK

Opportunities for the incorporation of artwork within the park precinct are many. The park is purposefully designed with a high degree of flexibility and open programme to facilitate a range of memorial typologies. Terrace walls, lawn spaces and pathways all provide potential surfaces upon which memorial/ art interventions could unfold.

AWARDS

NZILA George Malcolm Award — 2017

NZILA Category Winner / Parks — 2017

Public and Institutional Spaces Gold Award, The Designers Institute of NZ Best Design Awards 2016

Planning and Urban Design award, NZIA Wellington Architecture Awards, 2016

Public Architecture award, NZIA Wellington Architecture Awards, 2016

NZ Indigenous and Specialty Timber Award at the NZ Timber Awards, 2015

Urban Design & Architectural Merit award, Wellington Property People Awards, 2015

Landscape, Infrastructure and the Supreme Awards, NZ Concrete Society Awards, 2015