Hip 2 B Square @ Britomart
Britomart – Precinct of squares.
The Britomart Precinct is not just a collection of new and old buildings, it is also an area of developing Lanes and Squares. Takutai Square is currently under construction and will feature new public seating, mature trees, a lawn and new paving. The Pipi Beds and pop jet fountains will also receive a facelift and should be up and running soon. Takutai Square will serve as the gateway to the new Atrium on Takutai and Office Building.
Not to be outdone by Takutai Square, the Central Plaza (which used to be car parking – good riddance) will become a medium-term structure for four retail and exhibition showcases. The two structures will be connected by a central sculpture garden featuring seven pou by artist Chris Bailey. The development should be complete by August. We can only hope that the retail will include some luxury fashion brands such as Prada but for now we shall wait and see.
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Lot’s of exciting developments happening about the city. The CBD is finally coming alive. Does anyone have further details on who’s moving in to the Imperial Building, Vic Park, 125 Queen St or Mid City Markets?
I will be posting more news regarding The Imperial Bldg and Queen Street Markets soon. There isn’t much news regarding Vic Park Markets but I have emailed the people concerned and still haven’t received any feedback from them. I will keep on nagging
Don’t like the titokis. They never grow well in an urban environment. Pohutukawas would have been much nicer if they were going for something evergreen.
What’s the plan for the northern part of the central site.
Not many people are excited about the plans for this site, I on the other hand am. It will be a building the same size as the Eastern Building but it will be taller and more contemporary in style. It will house retail at ground level (rumours suggest that it will house David Jones or luxury brands only), offices and apartments.
I think that the building will create more lanes, compliment the Eastern Building (balance) and frame Takutai Square. It will also help give downtown AKL that big city feel. More details will be published once I have them in my grubby little paws
I am very excited for the plans on the Central site. It would be great if they could include a rooftop garden with public access, the views would be amazing !
Britomart Pricinct is very fast becoming the best part of the CBD in my opinion. I was there tonight (for the first time in a few months) and was almost overwhelmed by many aspects of a lively and cultured city I witnessed… the sort of stuff I dreamed was far in Aucklands future at best.
Much of Auckland has been one planning disaster after another, and I often find myself wandering the city thinking about how the environment could be improved. Tonight, for the first time, I saw more solutions than problems as I walked.
Firstly, the shops are all interesting, diverse and high quality, without exception. International clothes brands, jewellers, and gift shops line the streets.
The cafes, bars and coffee shops are not just some arrangement of Starbucks, Columbus and McDonalds outlets- but unique and independent establishments which each boast their own distinct flavour and atmosphere, whilst making use of their location in a creative way- whether it be down a narrow mall or in a historic brick building.
As I waited for my bus outside Stanbeth House, I noticed that the entrances to offices and shops there celebrated the original design of the building with original style entranceways , oddly shaped shops, exposed brick walls and lovely wood flooring- giving the building and the street a character often absent from Auckland developments where old and modern are mixed.
And lastly, GRASS! A very rare sight in the city, but so essential in the make up of a good public space. Trees, vertical gardens and quality paving also come together to allow an amazing area to come to life with people and events.
Britomart precinct will in many ways be the focal point of the city- connecting offices and shops to the waterfront, connecting Vector Arena to the Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter and the universities to all of the above. Its also the most transit accessible few blocks in Auckland… which i’m sure has played a pretty important role in the precincts success and viability.
You have said all that I wanted to say. Thanks for sharing your views with us.
For the first time in many years I feel very inspired and very excited about Auckland and the direction that we are taking. I guess that this blog helps, full of positive news and very upbeat
I love your enthusiasm and I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Well said mate. We need more praise and less complaining in Auckland. Things are changing faster than we realise and I am sure that it will only gain momentum.
What they said, your enthusiasm is contagious, so is this blog
What a pleasant change
Yet another car park gone, I love it ! Takutai Square is full of people (on a sunny day) relaxing on the lawn and the Atrium on Takutai is becoming a popular transit corridor. Six years ago this area was a hell-hole and look at it now. Just goes to show what can be done and I am very excited about the future of Auckland and where we are heading.
Fort Street is also coming along nicely as well. They just need to build something on those two vacant sites.
It is all coming together now. The vacant sites will not stay as is for too long, we need a huge population boom followed by an economic boom. I do know that the Shortland Street site is touch and go. We could see this rise within the next two years. Cross fingers.
Next up North Wharf and hopefully High Street pedestrianisation.
I am meeting with Ludo next month and will try to push for High Street pdestrianisation. Cross fingers and toes
Cool. I’d love to see strips of grass laid out along High Street. It would make it into a real haven in the concrete jungle.
Hopefully if any pedestrianising to the area is made it is in keeping with the area being a NZ fashion centre. Let’s move away from the bland grey paving and have something innovative and exciting in keeping with what the area should be. Make it a distinct vibrant precinct instead of a mish mash.
Even partial pedestrianising of High Street from Freyberg square on is an option for now. Allow vehicles to do deliveries in the early mornings then block it off for street art, cafes and restaurants. I reckon it is more of a priority than completing stage 2 and 3 of Fort St. There appears to be too many carpark buildings on Fort street that makes the shared space difficult.
I have been living in the UK for the last 7 years and I have spent some time going through all the articles on this blog. I am most impressed, this is not the Auckland that I left behind so many years ago, it is heading in the right direction and looks great.
It may be time for me to start thinking about heading back home, for good this time
After reading your blog I went and had a look around and I loved the feel of the area, this could become the new heart of Auckland. Im my humble opinion it feels better than Aotea Square to be honest.
I just wanted to say that although I think Takutai Square is in a great location, and that although I love the grass and the fountain jets…. the attention to detail and construction is appalling.
Has anyone actually *looked* at what is there? Tiny slithers of paving, random cuts that haven’t been thought out, terrible jointing around inground lights of bright white spilling out messily that doesn’t blend with the colour of the paver joints. The tree pits are giant holes in the ground that have rubbish collecting in them and a grate over top to try and disguise it. Who has been supervising this to ensure that our city constructions are to a high standard and will have the longevity of generations of appreciation? It’s all very well to have a great design concept, but if it’s implementation is lacking on the finer points then it just comes off looking slapdash and cheapens the design and out city.