Matiatia land development
A vision for Matiatia - the design search
The design search |
The preferred design |
Assessment panel's comments on designs
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| Matiatia Bay - photo courtesy of photographer Janet Hunt |
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Matiatia, Waiheke Island is an important strategic asset that needs to be developed in a way that is inspirational
and extraordinary.
The landscape of the 4.25 hectare Matiatia Valley serves as the gateway to Waiheke Island and should be home to a
world-class sustainable development.
The design search
In a bid to see such a development on site, we launched an international search for ideas to
develop Matiatia. Cash prizes were offered for finalists and the designer of the final concept chosen by the council
will have the opportunity to
help develop their design on the site.
To guide designers, the council engaged a working party to develop a design
brief for the site. The working party was made up of
- architects
- designers
- property developers
- councillors and
- community
representatives.
The brief, 'A vision for Matiatia', incorporated both
- the design principles established by the Waiheke community and
- the
elements Auckland City wants to see included in any development.
'A Vision for Matiatia' was a two stage process.
The first stage was open to
any interested party and 75 designs were submitted. These entries went on public
display and about 400 visitors completed a feedback form. An assessment panel
(made up of built environment professionals and community representatives)
selected five finalists from these 75 and further refined the design brief
taking into account the public feedback.
These finalists then submitted more
detailed designs for stage two, which were also displayed for public feedback.
The assessment panel then met again to select a preferred concept.
Design 201 was recommended by the assessors to the committee as the
preferred concept.
This concept is being further developed by a working party of council and
community representatives, in association with the preferred design team and the
council's Property Enterprise Board for implementation.
A directional plan for the development of the site over a possible 20 year
period will be reported to the City Development Committee with design concepts
for stage one also being made available for community feedback in late 2008.
Background
Auckland City Council acquired all of the shares in Waitemata Infrastructure Limited (WIL) in 2005. This means the council now owns
the area of land at Waiheke Island adjacent to the Matiatia ferry terminal known as the "harbourmaster site".
The $12.5 million acquisition will enable the council to oversee a mixed-use development that will reflect the character of the
island in design and scale and provide a significant gateway.
Auckland City intends to retain ownership of the land and negotiate the
long-term lease of some of it to a developer for a return of about $7.5 million
to offset the purchase price.
When Waitemata Infrastructure Limited owned the land it proposed building a $35 million township at Matiatia. This plan was opposed
by over 1000 locals as being out of character with the area. Following public consultation, the council purchased the land by acquiring
all of the assets of WIL on 31 August 2005.
Updated August 2008
