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Queen Street upgrade

Project summary | Design features | History

Design features

Street trees go native

The Queen Street upgrade saw a new emphasis on native trees and the natural environment. Native planting including Nikau palms and cabbage trees. The palms and cabbage trees were chosen because they are iconic, well-loved native trees that are local to Auckland and will grow well in the urban environment.

Urban design embraces art, history and culture

Te Waka Taumata O Horotiu, by Fred Graham

'Perchable' seating designed by sculptor John Edgar

A key element of the street upgrade was creation of unique furniture, lighting and artwork elements that complement Auckland's land, history and culture. Developed in collaboration between the council, architects, designers and artists, the works include:

• street furniture designed by Humphrey Ikin and manufactured by HUB Street Equipment. The furniture creates robust, flexible seating with a strong Pacific flavour
• 'perchable' seating designed by sculptor John Edgar
• Te Waka Taumata O Horotiu, a sculptural artwork produced by Fred Graham which is located at the junction with Swanson Street, marking the site of the original foreshore
• the collaborative Source artwork located outside the Civic Theatre, reflecting the ancient Horotiu stream and its unique location
• Inanga paving, developed in conjunction with local iwi, that has been inlaid in the footpath paving pattern to recall the Inanga (whitebait) that was present in the Horotiu Stream which ran down the Queen Street valley

Architectus were the lead designers of the new look Queen Street. They worked with a team of professionals to develop the design for Queen Street including furniture designer Humphrey Ikin, stone sculptor John Edgar, lighting consultants DJCoallition, HUB Street Furniture and Rewi Thompson Architects as cultural consultants.

Published February 2010