
Estimated reading time: 2 min
Last updated: 23 February 2022
- Design thinking
- Proposed boardwalk design
- Proposed play, access and rest spaces
- Download proposed design as PDF files
The purpose of this page was to help people respond to Consultation 2021. You can click on images to see a larger image. Or download the PDF file with all design elements discussed on this page.
Design thinking
Project vision
The weaving together of the river and the community through a series of infrastructural elements that respond and engage with the landscape, representing community, culture, and heritage. Aspiring for design excellence and creative placemaking that demonstrates best practice in environmental, cultural and social sustainability.
Design strategy
Click on the images to view larger versions.
1. One pathway, many places
Continuous + Cohesive
The overall design language for the boardwalk will be consistent and cohesive supporting the idea of a single pathway embedded with a sense of identity and place that supports the project aspirations and unique Te Whau identity linking harbour to harbour.
Modular + Elegant
The design and strategy for the boardwalk is to be simple, elegant, uniform, and efficient.
2. Site specific and episodic
An overlay of curated and site specific responses that support ‘episodic experiences’ as the pathway transitions through varying landscapes and neighbourhoods. These are a combination of opportunities to access the water, provide for views and opportunities for bird watching and ecological enhancement etc. The considered distribution of these elements will provide points of interest and respond to the site.
Start + Middle + End
Gateway interventions acknowledge the start/end points of the pathway in Green Bay and SH16 and the idea of a ‘middle’, a key destination and focus point for the community.
3. Art, wayfinding and interpretation
Kit of Parts
Building on locations and key ‘moments’ identified in 002, a curated series of integrated art, interpretation, wayfinding, and placemaking elements are interwoven, revealing stories, narratives and history of Te Whau and surrounding communities.
Design Collaboration
Collaborative/co-design of a suite of signage and interpretation elements in collaboration with mana whenua / appointed artists / community / and appointed designers.
Colour palette
The colour palette of Te Whau intertidal landscape zone of mudflats, riparian margins and tidal zones has influenced the design of Te Whau Pathway. Inspiration is also drawn from Te Taiao, the natural world and environment, and the highly significant kuaka (Bar-tailed Godwit) that migrates every year from Alaska to feed on the tidal flats and coastal marshes of Aotearoa. A range of colours between browns and golds are being considered.
Proposed boardwalk design
Recommended boardwalk option
This is the preferred option of the Multi Criteria Analysis. (What is Multi-Criteria Analysis?). This option was one of three options compared against the base case (the concept design from the Scheme Assessment Report in 2017).
Technical details
- Pile Span: 7500mm centres
- Pile Material: Precast concrete 400x400mm
- Grillage: Alumium grillage
- Decking: FRP panels
Proposed balustrade types
The typical boardwalk balustrade is coloured steel reflecting the design narrative with ‘moments’ of timber and solid panels located at selected locations to provide wayfinding and artistic and cultural integration opportunities.
Boardwalk visualisations
These images give an idea of how the boardwalk would look in the wetland estuary of the Whau river.
Click on an image to see a larger image. You can view these images from a mobile but the viewing experience may be better if you download the PDF file.
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Visualisation – Balustrade colour test (Resene ‘Spark’) -
Balustrade colour test (Resene ‘Blast Yellow’) -
Visualisation – Lookout pod -
Visualisation – Aerial view of a T Junction -
Visualisation – Aerial view of Te Whau Pathway in Te Atatū South -
Visualisation of Riverglade Esplanade (Te Atatū South) and Balustrade Option C
Boardwalk design parameters
The boardwalk structure is consistent with the April 2021 Preliminary Design and meets the Resource consent requirements TBA
Boardwalk
- Width: 4.0m
- Decking Material: Fibre reinforced plastic. Colour: Charcoal
- Deck Level: 2.89m (Auckland Vertical Datum)
- Height from bottom of deck plate to deck level: 400mm
Piles
- Pile Span: 7.5m crs along boardwalk. Material: Concrete
Balustrade
- Height: 1200mm from top of deck to top of handrail
- Material: 10x40mm flat bar verticals at 100mmm crs
- Handrail: 65x35mm steel rectangular hollow section
- Colour: Te Whau Colour
Proposed play, access and rest spaces
Below are a series of spaces that will support ‘moments’ along the pathway. These give opportunities to pause and rest, access the water, or to birdwatch. Interpretation and wayfinding reveal stories about the area and are woven into these moments.
Some of these ideas will be developed as the design progresses. You can find suggested locations for these elements on the maps in the Section pages in the online consultation tool called Social Pinpoint.
We would like feedback on these elements. What do you like about the design and locations? What don’t you like? Also what else would you like to see along the pathway? Let us know!
P01 – Whare Pūrākau
A shelter/pavilion, centrally located along the alignment, provides a community hub and gathering point for events and activities. A place for key pūrākau (stories) of the portage, the river, and the history of Te Whau to be communicated through wayfinding and integrated artworks.
P09 – Nature play
A distribution of nature play locations across the length of Te Whau Pathway, including climbing logs, stepping stones, climbing nets, rope courses etc. Each with a different theme based on pūrākau (stories) of the area.
P03 – Lookout Pod
Lookout structures of varying sizes providing areas for pathway users to rest, meet and take in the natural surroundings. Potential for interpretation and pūrākau (stories) to be incorporated within the design.
P05 – Lookout Pod + Water Access
New water access points and the formalisation of existing locations, to provide access to Te Whau river. Access types vary as they are dependent on the location, and designs will be developed further.
P07 – Transitions
Furniture, wayfinding, and interpretative information bookending the boardwalk where it transitions to land.
P08 – Junction
Wayfinding information and materiality changes are integrated into the surface and balustrade railing to signal a junction where local reserves connect to the main boardwalk route.
F01 – Wayfinding Pole
A standard Council directional sign with key places and distances displayed.
F02 – Wayfinding Totem
A standard Council wayfinding sign that displays route maps, locations, distances and directional information.
F03 – Ground Treatment
Wayfinding text sandblasted into the pathway surface.
F04 – Marker
Distance markers to highlight every kilometre travelled along the total length of the pathway.
F05 – Balustrade
Feature Panel
Solid balustrade panels displaying wayfinding information. They will be typically located at junctions and transitions.
F05 – Balustrade
Interpretative Handrail
Interpretative information of pūrākau (stories) or significant sites applied to the top of the handrail as text and/or patterns.
SH16 Entry from the Northwestern Cycleway
Download proposed design as PDF files
The Design elements file is 11MB so may take some time to download.
The Design narrative file is 14MB so may take some time to download.
The Te Whau Pathway SH16 entry – Northern End file is 2MB.